Freeman scores twice as US routs Uruguay 5-1, heads into WC year with 5-game unbeaten streak

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter (16) kicks the ball against FC Dallas forward Petar Musa (9)

Alex Freeman scored twice and Sebastian Berhalter and Diego Luna had one goal each as the United States overwhelmed Uruguay with a four-goal first half in a 5-1 win yesterday [Macau time] to head into a World Cup year with a five-game unbeaten streak.

Tanner Tessmann added a 68th-minute goal for the U.S., which scored five times against a South American confederation opponent and a top 30 team for the first time.

The 16th-ranked Americans continued their autumn turnaround after lackluster performances in the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup.

They have just two more games, March friendlies likely against Belgium and Portugal, before coach Mauricio Pochettino selects his World Cup roster.

Freeman, Berhalter and Tessmann all scored their first international goals as the U.S. got five goals against a team outside the CONCACAF region for the first time since beating Scotland 5-1 in 2012. The Americans have won four games, including three straight, during the five-game unbeaten streak against World Cup-bound teams.

Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off in the 64th minute for a high sliding tackle on Berhalter. La Celeste, ranked 15th and headed to its fifth straight World Cup, had entered the friendly with a six-game unbeaten streak.

Berhalter, a son of former coach Gregg Berhalter, put the U.S. ahead in the 17th minute off a free kick and Freeman headed in Berhalter’s corner kick in the 20th. Freeman added a 31st-minute goal and Luna opened a four-goal lead in the 42nd.

Fielding a starting lineup of mostly backups before a crowd of 26,110 in 69,000-capacity Raymond James Stadium, the U.S. scored four goals in a half for the first time against a South American team.

Uruguay’s Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored on a 7-yard overhead kick in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, his 13th international goal, after goalkeeper Matt Freese and defenders Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie converged and all failed to clear the ball.

Before the start and again at the final whistle, Pochettino hugged Uruguay’s Marcelo Bielsa, the coach who signed him as a 13-year-old for Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina.

The U.S. went ahead after Manuel Ugarte fouled Haji Wright just to the side of the penalty area. Berhalter exchanged passes with Sergiño Dest and one-timed a shot past backup goalkeeper Cristopher Fiermarin inside the far post

Freeman, a son of former NFL all-pro receiver Antonio Freeman playing in his home state, outjumped Bentancur to head in Berhalter’s corner kick for the second goal and Timmy Tillman slid to win a challenge against Nahitan Nández, leading to the third goal. Tillman passed wide to Trusty, who one-touched the ball into the path of Freeman. He dribbled between Ronald Araújo and Manuel Ugarte to score from short range off a deflection, becoming only the second American defender with a two-goal game after Aaron Long in 2019 against Trinidad and Tobago.

Luna got his fourth international goal after Tillman’s cross deflected off Rodrigo Zalazar and rolled into his path near the penalty spot.

Tessmann headed in a cross from fellow second-half substitute Gio Reyna following a short corner kick.

Pochettino change nine starters, keeping only Freese and Dest, who played wide right. Trusty made his second start, his first since his debut in March 2023, and Tillman made his second start, his first since his debut in January 2024. MDT/AP