Mathis Albert becomes youngest goal scorer in USMNT history at age 17

ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Men’s National Team completed the comeback behind a terrific team performance and the youngest starting lineup of head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure to defeat Chile 4-2 and remain undefeated in program history at Energizer Park.

Like the opening match of the window against Peru, the team scored four goals from four different scorers. Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter recorded one goal and one assist for the second straight match. Forward Julian Hall scored his second goal in as many matches to become the youngest player in program history to record a goal in each of his first two caps. Center back Chris Richards delivered the game-winner minutes into his first action of the window, and 17-year-old midfielder Mathis Albert capped off the victory to become the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history.

Pochettino made 10 changes to the lineup that started Saturday’s 4-1 win over Peru, with midfielder Gio Reyna as the only holdover. Fullback Antonee Robinson, in his team-high 60th cap, captained the USMNT for the first time. Notable first-time starters included Hall, forward Adri Mehmeti, defender Neil Pierre, midfielder Brooklyn Raines, defender Frankie Westfield and goalkeeper Chris Brady.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper was called into action early in the second minute – and would stay on his toes for the rest of the half. Brady’s first of five saves in the first half came when Chile winger Maximiliano Gutiérrez put a long, low strike on frame. Moments later, the U.S. had a chance to test the Chilean defense in their own attacking box. Intricate passing between Robinson, Mehmeti, Reyna and then into the box for Hall forced Chile goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux to come off his line and gobble up the ball.

The U.S. continued to push the attack and test Vigouroux including in the 14th minute when Reyna drew a foul to earn a free kick for the hosts. Reyna, making his 45th appearance, took the kick, swerving a brilliant ball into the box. Defender Miles Robinson rose to head down the cross from close range that if not for a heroic dive from Vigouroux could have opened the scoring on a pleasant evening in St. Louis.

An exciting and pacey first half saw the two sides trade chances with a total of 15 shots and the starting goalkeepers combine for seven saves. Chile had two chances on goal two minutes apart – the first saved by Brady and the second a firm strike that traveled just wide of the goal. On the other end, a brilliant pass from Berhalter set up a 1v1 situation between Hall and Vigouroux. Looking for his second goal in as many matches, Hall made a nice cut to evade the goalkeeper, but the 18-year-old’s shot sailed over the crossbar in the 22nd minute.

Ten minutes later, Brady would come up with a big stop for the U.S. After another near chance for Hall, Chile transitioned rapidly and sent a long through ball toward the corner flag. With the ball in no man’s land, Brady at first looked to come off his line to play the ball with his feet but decided to backtrack and protect his net. The Chicago native reacted quickly to get a paw on Nils Reichmuth’s firm left-footed strike and knock it out-of-bounds for a Chile corner kick.

After back-to-back shots from Chile pinged off the post, the tables turned and the Americans opened the scoring. The play started with a give-and-go between wingback Sergiño Dest and Reyna on the left side of the pitch. Hall smartly left Dest’s cross for Berhalter who was wide open on the far side of the 18-yard box, and the midfielder tucked a low shot into the far corner for his fourth goal in 20 appearances and third contribution in two matches.

Chile would equalize seconds away from the halftime break with a mad scramble around the goal line. After a few attempted clearances following a Chile corner kick, defender Diego Ulloa somehow found a lane in traffic to drive a volley into goal and level the match 1-1 just before halftime.

Teams were allowed nine substitutions for today’s match, and Pochettino made his first at the halftime break, sending on Brian Schwake to replace Brady in goal. The appearance marked the international debut for the Nashville SC goalkeeper, and he becomes the 12th player and second goalkeeper to debut in this window.

Three minutes into the second half, Chile scored the go-ahead goal when Gutiérrez delivered from a right-footed strike about 20 yards from goal.

Trailing for the first time during in this window, the young USMNT did not waver and answered immediately with a headed goal from Hall off a Reyna cross to even the score at 2-2 in the 51st minute. After scoring in his debut against Peru, the finish was the 18-year-old’s second goal in as many matches.

Much like the Sept. 26 match against Peru, Pochettino sent on several reinforcements in the second half. Midfielder Tyler Adams, center back Chris Richards, midfielder Malik Tillman, defender Alex Freeman and defender Auston Trusty replaced Westfield, Dest, Miles Robinson, Pierre and Mehmati.

Fresh legs and more veterans on the pitch seemed to further focus the U.S. on its quest to find the go-ahead goal. Moments after entering the match, Freeman took a crack at goal that forced a block from Vigouroux.

The game-winner arrived from Richards, seeing his first minutes of the window after sitting out the Peru match due to load management. Off excellent service from Berhalter on a corner kick, the Crystal Palace standout delivered a wicked header from nearly the same spot where Hall scored earlier to put the U.S. ahead 3-2 in the 72nd minute. Three of Richard’s four international goals have been assisted by Berhalter.

The U.S. did well to keep a hungry Chile side from equalizing, including in the 89th minute when a ricocheted ball traveled into Chile’s attacking half for Leandro Hernández with plenty of space. Raines and Robinson sprinted to slow down the play and stop any other opportunity for Chile.

The home team would add one more in second-half stoppage time when Mathis Albert  iced the match for the U.S. on a set piece to become the youngest player to score in USMNT history at 17 years and 131 days.

The U.S. now turns its attention to a rivalry match against Mexico. “The Duel in the Desert” kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 3 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Then, the USMNT concludes the four-match slate against fellow World Cup co-host Canada on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn.

Goal Scoring Rundown:

USA – SEBASTIAN BERHALTER (SERGIÑO DEST), 37th minute: The U.S. maintained possession, and Dest worked with Gio Reyna on the left side of the pitch on a give-and-go. On the dribble, Dest pushed the ball toward goal then laid a cross toward the penalty spot for Julian Hall. With a Chile defender tightly marking him, the teenager sold the dummy, leaving the ball for Berhalter with space. The midfielder knocked a low, firm strike with his right foot from inside the 18-yard box into the left corner of the goal. USA 1, CHI 0

CHI – DIEGO ULLOA, 45th minute: A Chile corner kick from the right corner flag resulted in a scramble inside the six-yard box. Brady and the U.S. defense weren’t able to clear the line, and Ulloa got a foot on a bouncing ball and volleyed it into the back of the net inside a crowded area. USA 1, CHI 1

CHI – MAXI GUTIÉRREZ, 49th minute: A big switch toward the left side advanced the attack for Chile. Gutiérrez tracked it down, cut the ball then dribbled toward the center of the pitch. He struck the ball with his right foot from 20 yards out and into the far side netting. USA 1, CHI 2

USA – JULIAN HALL (GIO REYNA), 51st minute: The U.S. exercised patience and control, moving the ball from the right side of the pitch to the left with short passes. From outside the 18-yard box, Reyna clipped a cross with his right foot into the box. Hall rose to meet Reyna’s cross and directed a header on goal from eight yards that bounced once and into the right side of the net. USA 2, CHI 2

USA – CHRIS RICHARDS (SEBASTIAN BERHALTER), 72nd minute: Antonee Robinson snuck in behind Chile’s line to force Vigouroux to make a block that went out-of-bounds for a U.S. corner kick. Berhalter took it from right corner flag with his right foot, driving his kick into the center of the box. Richards rose from about seven yards from goal and redirected a firm header that swiftly traveled into the back of the net. USA 3, CHI 2

USA – MATHIS ALBERT (AUSTON TRUSTY), 90th minute: Antonee Robinson took a direct free kick roughly 35 yards from goal. With his left foot, he slung the ball toward the left side that Trusty headed down beautifully and across goal. Albert flew through multiple defenders and threw his right foot at the ball. The strike shot upward to hit the crossbar and then back down and just over the goal line. USA 4, CHI 2

Additional Notes:

• The lineup against Chile was the team’s youngest under Pochettino and also the youngest XI since Jan. 25, 2023, vs. Serbia.
• At 17 years, 131 days, Mathis Albert becomes the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history after his goal against Chile.
• Brian Schwake earned his first cap, entering the match against Chile as a substitute.
• Sebastian Berhalter scored his fourth USMNT goal overall and third this year, tied for second-most by any player in 2026.
• Julian Hall’s goal against Chile, makes him the first player to score in his first two caps for the USMNT since Patrick Agyemang in 2025 against Venezuela and Costa Rica.
• Chris Richards scored his fourth USMNT against Peru, his first since the 2025 Gold Cup Final against Mexico.
• Sergiño Dest registered his first assist since Nov. 18, 2025.
• After picking up an assist on a set piece goal, Sebastian Berhalter now leads the USMNT with six goal contributions during 2026.
• Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson both earned their 60th cap against Chile, while Robinson captained the team for the first time.
• The match against Chile is the USMNT’s second consecutive match scoring four goals with four different goalscorers
• Six players made their first start against Chile: Chris Brady, Julian Hall, Adri Mehmeti, Neil Pierre, Brooklyn Raines, Frankie Westfield.
• Entering the match as a substitute, Alex Freeman made his 23rd consecutive USMNT appearance dating back to June 15, 2025, in a 5-0 victory against Trinidad and Tobago.
• The USMNT improved its overall record at Energizer Park to a perfect 5-0-0.

– U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –
Match: United States Men’s National Team vs. Chile
Date: September 29, 2026
Competition: International Match
Venue: Energizer Park; St. Louis, Mo.
Attendance: 21,680
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CT
Weather: 73 degrees, cloudy

Lineups:
USA: 25-Chris Brady (28-Brian Schwake, 45); 21-Frankie Westfield (16-Alex Freeman, 62), 20-Neil Pierre (3-Chris Richards, 63), 12-Miles Robinson (6-Auston Trusty, 63), 5-Antonee Robinson (Capt.); 15-Brooklyn Raines, 26-Adri Mehmeti (4-Tyler Adams, 62), 7-Gio Reyna (9-Damion Downs, 71); 2-Sergiño Dest (17-Malik Tillman, 63), 19-Julian Hall (27-Mathis Albert, 71), 14-Sebastian Berhalter (8-Cavan Sullivan, 83)

Substitutes not used: 1-Matt Freese,10-Yunus Musah, 11-Zavier Gozo, 13-Peyton Miller, 18-George Campbell, 22-Justin Ellis

Head Coach: Mauricio Pochettino

CHI: 12-Lawrence Vigoroux; 2-Felipe Faundez (25-Francisco Salinas, 58), 27-Jonathan Villagra (5-Paulo Diaz, 58), 4-Ivan Roman, 26-Diego Ulloa (3-Marcelo Morales, 70); 8-Felipe Loyola (Capt.) (6-Vicente Pizzaro, 70), 14-Victor Mendez (18-Rodrigo Echeverria, 70), 19-Nils Reichmuth (24-Leandro Hernandez, 58); 11-Dario Osorio, 22-Ben Brereton (Gonzalo Tapia, 84), 9-Maximiliano Gutierrez

Substitutes not used: 1-Christian Bravo, 23-Brayan Cortes, 10-Marcelino Nunez, 13-Igor Lichnovsky, 15-Cesar Perez, 20-Matias Sepulveda, 21-Agustin Arce, 29-Zidane Yanez

Head Coach: Nicolas Cordova

Stats Summary: USA / CHI
Shots: 18 / 17
Shots on Goal: 9 / 8
Saves: 6 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 13
Fouls: 12 / 10
Offsides: 1 / 3

Officials:
Referee: Jorge Camacho (MEX)
Assistant 1: Leonardo Castillo (MEX)
Assistant 2: Maximiliano Gomez (MEX)
Fourth Official: Victor Caceres (MEX)