The USMNT notched their second victory of the long fall international break, taking down Chile 4-2 in St. Louis on Tuesday evening. Mauricio Pochettino deployed a super young starting lineup, clearly wanting to see what these kids have in their locker as the 2030 World Cup cycle kicks off. But let’s be real, it was a mixed performance out there. They were under pressure on numerous occasions and, honestly, shot themselves in the foot a few times, conceding twice to an “offensively inept” South American side. Even in a win, that’s not ideal.
Berhalter Is Shutting Down The Doubters
Sebastian Berhalter is here to stay, and honestly, it’s awesome to watch. Being the son of former coach Gregg Berhalter, Sebastian had a mountain to climb to win over the masses. But the dude absolutely went about his work brilliantly, proving he’s a serious asset to the national team. Pochettino had him doing everything from playing the No. 6, to the No. 8, to out on the wing. While he’s not excellent at all roles, and shouldn’t be playing defensive midfield long-term, he has absolutely carved out a role on this team. From deadly set pieces to midfield creativity to finishing, Berhalter has all the goods. He scored the opener against Chile, making it 1-0, with an assist from Julian Hall’s spectacular dummy, and he’s even crushing it for Middlesbrough in England. He had a strong game against Chile, and while there are things to improve, like his influence with only 42 touches through the first hour, he is making the absolute most of every chance he gets on the ball. This kid is delivering.
Julian Hall Is The Real Deal, Period.
But hold up, let’s talk about the pure, raw talent that is Julian Hall. This 19-year-old Red Bulls phenom hasn’t fully committed to the United States yet, still eligible to switch to Poland, so USMNT fans better hope this international break locks him in for good. Because this kid is special, plain and simple. He’s got two goals in two games to kick off his U.S. career, scoring against both Peru AND Chile. But it’s not only the goals, it’s the range of skills he’s showing. That dummy on Berhalter’s goal against Chile? Spectacular. And earlier in the game, he showed incredible ability to get close to scoring, rounding the goalkeeper on a breakaway. He’s got plenty of room to grow, but he’s already flashing all the talent needed to give fans hope for a legitimate future star.
So yeah, the USMNT took the win, and that’s what counts. But this young squad definitely showed some growing pains, putting in a mixed performance against Chile. Still, with guys like Sebastian Berhalter absolutely crushing it and carving out a crucial role, and Julian Hall flashing undeniable, world-class potential, the future for this 2030 World Cup cycle is looking mighty interesting. We’re just getting started, folks, and these kids are making some serious noise right now. You gotta be excited!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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