TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Alex Freeman scored twice and Sebastian Berhalter and Diego Luna each scored one goal as the United States dominated Uruguay with four first-half goals on Tuesday night, winning 5-1 and entering the World Cup year with a five-game undefeated streak.
Tanner Tessman added a goal for the United States in the 68th minute, giving him five points for the first time against a South American opponent and a top-30 team.
The 16th-ranked Americans continued their fall turnaround after lackluster performances in the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup.
There are two more games left before Mauricio Pochettino selects his World Cup squad, with friendly matches likely against Belgium and Portugal in March.
Freeman, Berhalter and Tessmann all scored their first international goals, giving the United States five goals against a team outside the CONCACAF region for the first time. Beat Scotland 5-1 in 2012. The Americans have won four games, including three in a row, during a five-game unbeaten streak against World Cup teams.
Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off in the 64th minute for a high sliding tackle on Berhalter. La Celeste, who enter their fifth consecutive World Cup in 15th place in the rankings, entered the friendly with a six-game unbeaten streak.
Berhalter, the son of former coach Gregg Berhalter, put the Americans ahead with a free kick in the 17th minute, and Freeman headed Berhalter’s corner kick in the 20th minute. Freeman added a goal in the 31st minute, and Luna extended its lead to four points in the 42nd minute.
With a starting lineup made up mostly of substitutes, the United States scored four goals in the first half against a South American team for the first time.
Uruguay’s Giorgian de Arrascueta scored his 13th goal for his country with a 7-yard overhead kick in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, even though goalkeeper Matt Freeze and defenders Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie were unable to clear the ball.
At the opening and final whistles, Pochettino hugged Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa, who signed him for Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys when he was 13 years old.
Manuel Ugarte fouled Haji Wright just outside the penalty area, giving the Americans the lead. Berhalter exchanged passes with Sergiño Dest and once fired a shot past goalkeeper Christopher Viermarin at the far post.
Freeman outscored Bentancur and headed in Berhaltel’s corner kick for the second goal, and Timmy Tillman slid in to beat Nahitan Nandez for the third goal. Tillman played a wide pass to Trusty, who with one touch put the ball into Freeman’s path. He dribbled between Ronald Araujo and Manuel Ugarte to score from close range, becoming the second American defender to score two goals after Aaron Long against Trinidad and Tobago in 2019.
Tillman’s cross was deflected by Rodrigo Zalazar and rolled close to the penalty spot, allowing Luna to score his fourth goal for his country.
After a short corner kick, Tessman headed in a cross from fellow second-half substitute Gio Reyna.
Pochettino made nine changes to his starting lineup, leaving only Freeze and Dest, who played wide right. Trusty was making his second start and first since making his debut in March 2023, while Tillman was making his second start and first since making his debut in January 2024.
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