Sebastian Berhalter Shines as USMNT Captain in Thrilling Victory Over Chile

The U.S. men's national team secured back-to-back victories in the September–October international window with a thrilling 4–2 triumph over Chile on Tuesday in St. Louis.

Chile arrived at Energizer Park having already suffered two red cards and a 1–0 defeat to Canada earlier in the window, yet they brought the same combative edge into the USMNT fixture, with physical play dominating the opening exchanges and contributing to a sluggish start. 

Despite both teams struggling to establish rhythm early on, the USMNT broke the deadlock with a well-crafted team move finished by Sebastian Berhalter in the 37th minute — his second goal in consecutive matches. Just before the break, Chile's Felipe Faúndez restored parity, poking home during a goal-line scramble after Chris Brady failed to deal with a corner kick. 

Though the teams went into halftime level, the second half belonged entirely to the Stars and Stripes, featuring a dazzling display from Julian Hall, a headed effort from Chris Richards, and Mathis Albert's maiden international goal. Albert's stoppage-time strike not only wrapped up the victory but also made him the youngest scorer in USMNT history at 17 years and 131 days old.

With two victories in the bag, the USMNT will be looking to keep the momentum going. Mauricio Pochettino's side take on Mexico on Saturday before rounding out the four-game stretch against Jesse Marsch's Canada the following Tuesday.

One Thing We Can't Ignore

The USMNT's goalkeeping situation is in a troubling state, with little sign of significant improvement on the horizon. This camp has already seen all four called-up goalkeepers get game time, and none have truly impressed. 

Despite making five saves in the first half of Tuesday's match, Chris Brady showed vulnerability dealing with balls into the box and struggled with his positioning at times. In the second half, Brian Schwake failed to make his mark as Maximiliano Gutiérrez found the net. 

Matt Freese, meanwhile, has seen a steady dip in form since the World Cup and no longer appears to be a viable option for 2030. Could Diego Kochen be the answer? The 20-year-old showed some promise in a half against Peru, but he is far from a guaranteed solution. It's a worrying time in goal for the Stars and Stripes.

USMNT Player Ratings vs. Chile (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

GK: Chris Brady—7.6: Brady's inability to claim crosses or deal with corner kicks was evident and left him at least partly culpable for Chile's opening goal. With the USMNT's goalkeeping pool lacking quality, he'll continue to earn opportunities — but this was a night he'll want to put behind him.

RB: Frankie Westfield—6.3: The Philadelphia Union wingback was fortunate to have Sergiño Dest ahead of him providing defensive cover. It wasn't a performance to be proud of, even if 62 minutes in a USMNT shirt will remain a career highlight. 

CB: Neil Pierre—6.6: The imposing center back is one of the more exciting prospects for the USMNT's future, though it's evident he still has considerable development ahead before cementing himself as a regular starter. 

CB: Miles Robinson—6.6: The FC Cincinnati stalwart failed to make an impression, and his days with the USMNT may be numbered. 

LB: Antonee Robinson—7.4: Faced with the tricky Dario Osorio on the flank, the Fulham defender held his ground effectively down the USMNT's left side. 

CDM: Brooklyn Raines—7.3: The New England Revolution midfielder brought relentless energy throughout the match, even if his combinations with Sebastian Berhalter were limited. 

CDM: Sebastian Berhalter—8.8: With Tim Ream announcing his retirement ahead of kickoff, Sebastian Berhalter rose to the occasion with a second goal in as many games and then delivered a corner kick assist for Chris Richards. He has been a fixture in the side since his breakthrough against Uruguay last November. Could he be the next captain?

RM: Sergiño Dest—7.6: Still adapting to the more advanced role Pochettino envisions for him, Dest's ability to push forward on Sebastian Berhalter's opener highlighted his growth in the position. 

CM: Gio Reyna—8.5: With a strong camp needed to solidify his place going forward, Reyna delivered with an assist and consistently threatened, registering a game-high five chances created. 

LM: Adri Mehmeti—6.2: Making his first USMNT start, Mehmeti found it difficult to settle in the opening half but finished the night with 35 successful passes and a valuable experience to build on.

ST: Julian Hall—8.2: The Red Bull New York youngster was among the standout performers in the USMNT attack, netting a composed headed finish for his second goal in as many appearances with the senior team. 

SUB: Brian Schwake (46' for Brady) —6.4: Schwake wasn't tested heavily, but could have done considerably better on the goal he conceded. 

SUB: Alex Freeman (62' for Westfield) —6.9: The Villarreal man injected much-needed energy into the USMNT's late push and defensive efforts. 

SUB: Tyler Adams (62' for Mehmeti) —6.4: A seasoned presence among the younger players, Adams found himself caught up in the late flashpoints between the two sides. 

SUB: Auston Trusty (63' for Pierre) —7.4: With two chances created and an assist, it was one of Trusty's most impactful attacking contributions in a USMNT shirt. 

SUB: Chris Richards (63' for Robinson) —7.9: Sebastian Berhalter's delivery from set pieces to the aerial threat of Chris Richards continues to be a potent combination. 

SUB: Malik Tillman (63' for Dest) —6.7: Tillman struggled to make a meaningful impact after coming off the bench. 

SUB: Damion Downs (70' for Reyna) —6.1: The new St. Louis CITY SC man looked somewhat out of his depth when introduced late in the game. 

SUB: Mathis Albert (71' for Hall) —7.3: The Borussia Dortmund forward etched his name in history as the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history at 17 years and 131 days. 

SUB: Cavan Sullivan (83' for Berhalter) —6.5: Just days after turning 17, Sullivan brought a burst of late energy to the closing stages of Tuesday's match.

Subs not used: Matt Freese (GK), George Campbell, Yunus Musah, Zavier Gozo, Justin Ellis, Peyton Miller.

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain the USMNT's Triumph