The men’s national teams of the United States and Chile stood level at 2-2 early in the second half on Tuesday (29) during an international friendly contested at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Missouri. The encounter produced four goals inside the first 51 minutes of action, featuring rapid momentum swings and alternating leads in front of the home crowd.
Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter opened the scoring for the host nation before Diego Ulloa and Maximiliano Gutiérrez orchestrated a comeback for the visitors. Just two minutes after falling behind, the home team struck back through Julian Hall to restore parity and ensure a wide-open contest as the second half unfolded.
First-half exchange and rapid second-half goals shake up the match
The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute of the first half following sustained pressure by the hosts. Sebastian Berhalter collected a precise assist from fullback Sergiño Dest and slotted the ball home to give the United States a well-earned advantage. Chile responded deep in first-half stoppage time at the 46th minute (45’+1), when Diego Ulloa capitalized on a loose ball inside the penalty area following a corner kick scramble to make it 1-1.
Julian Hall sells the dummy 😮💨
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) September 30, 2026
Sebastian Berhalter delivers the finish 🎯pic.twitter.com/hO2Ulnp6at
During the halftime intermission, head coach Mauricio Pochettino altered his lineup by introducing goalkeeper Brian Schwake to replace starter Chris Brady. The tactical adjustment did not immediately stop the Chilean momentum, as Nicolás Córdova’s side seized the lead in the 49th minute when Maximiliano Gutiérrez unleashed a right-footed strike from outside the box that beat the keeper. The American reaction was swift, culminating in the 51st minute when Julian Hall rose to head home an accurate delivery from Giovanni Reyna and lock the scoreline at 2-2.
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This balanced contest pitted two programs separated by 33 spots in the global pecking order. The United States entered the window positioned 16th in the official FIFA men’s world rankings, whereas Chile arrived on North American soil holding the 49th spot.
Key moments and scoring progression across both halves
- 37th minute (1st half) — Sebastian Berhalter opens the scoring for the United States after receiving an assist from Sergiño Dest.
- 46th minute (1st half) — Diego Ulloa levels the match for Chile following a corner kick and a scramble in the box.
- 1st minute (2nd half) — Brian Schwake enters the American goal to replace starting goalkeeper Chris Brady.
- 4th minute (2nd half) — Maximiliano Gutiérrez scores from outside the penalty area with a right-footed shot to give Chile the lead.
- 6th minute (2nd half) — Julian Hall scores with a header off an assist by Giovanni Reyna to make it 2-2.
Squad evolution under Mauricio Pochettino and recent international form
Assessing the squad development process and the demands placed on his players, Mauricio Pochettino addressed the structural hurdles of the international calendar. “We need help from the clubs, from the federation, and from organizations like MLS. We need to slightly adapt how we operate across all competitions to provide players with the right tools to become more competitive,” the manager explained.
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Both squads took the pitch after distinct outcomes in their preceding fixtures on September 26, 2026. On that date, the United States earned a 4-1 victory over Peru in Orlando, Florida, while Chile suffered a 1-0 defeat against Canada during a visit to Toronto.
Match details and official starting lineups at Energizer Park
- Running score: United States 2, Chile 2
- Kickoff: September 29, 2026, at 21:00 (Brasília time) / 19:00 local time
- Referee: Jorge Abraham Camacho Peregrina
- United States starting lineup: Chris Brady, F. Westfield, N. Pierre, M. Robinson, A. Robinson, B. Raines, Sebastian Berhalter, Sergiño Dest, Giovanni Reyna, A. Mehmeti, and Julian Hall
- Chile starting lineup: L. Vigouroux, F. Faúndez, J. Villagra, I. Román, Diego Ulloa, F. Loyola, V. F. Méndez, D. Osorio, Nils Reichmuth, Maximiliano Gutiérrez, and Ben Brereton Díaz
The international friendly continued past the 51-minute mark on American soil. Any subsequent tactical developments and disciplinary bookings that occurred later in the fixture remained subject to official post-match confirmation by the refereeing crew and organizing officials.
