USMNT’s Alejandro Zendejas celebrates after scoring during the first half against Japan at Lower.com Field on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio.
(John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images)
After a 2-0 loss to South Korea on Saturday, the U.S. men’s national team hoped to get its mojo back with a win. Tuesday’s game had a win-or-go home feel to it, as the U.S. tries to find its footing and keep fans on board — and the USMNT delivered, with a 2-0 win over Japan.
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Pregame, midfielder Tyler Adams told the broadcast that the team needed a win, and win the Americans did. The victory over Japan, the No. 17 team in the FIFA rankings, breaks a tough streak of losses against top-25 teams.
From kickoff, Tuesday’s game felt like a far cry from the team’s tough start Saturday, when the U.S. allowed both South Korean goals in the first half. The USMNT looked more organized and more controlled on the pitch, even against a controlled Japanese side.
The U.S. found its opening in the 30th minute, as Alejandro Zendejas slotted home a beautiful goal to open the scoring.
The team kept up the momentum in the second half as well. Folarin Balogun got another excellent finish in the 64th minute, off a great assist from Christian Pulisic.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese also pitched in significantly for the win, getting six saves and continuing to cement his place as the first-string goalkeeper.
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Unlike Saturday, U.S. was much more aggressive on offense, getting 11 shots on target out of 19 in total. Japanese goalkeeper Keisuke Osako, who had a stunning nine saves, was the only person holding the USMNT to only two goals.
The win also marks a potential turning point for USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino. After months of testing out potential lineup combinations, this game demonstrated more team chemistry than several past editions. And Pochettino, who dismissed some criticism of the team as “bulls***” on Monday, will have a much-needed win under his belt and a sigh of relief heading into the rest of the fall.
Looking forward, Pochettino will have a broad roster to choose from in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup next summer. Zendejas and Folarin were the 16th and 17 different players to score for the U.S. under Pochettino, across only 18 games, per OptaJack.
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After closing out the September window with a win, the USMNT will reconvene in October to play Ecuador and Australia, before facing Paraguay and Uruguay in November.
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