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00:00I hear from set pieces. This time it's in to look at the back post again.
00:06GuillemarÃn is right in the face of the referees.
00:10Freeman tried to get on the end of that one for what would have been a second goal of the game for him.
00:14What an opportunity. Watch Freeman. He just picks the final ball early on.
00:18It's bending and it kind of just tucks underneath him.
00:21And it comes off of him. He doesn't get a chance to attack at first.
00:26Well defended.
00:30Feels a little lucky there.
00:40Tolkien swings it towards the front post where Salazar will head away.
00:46This is Aiden Morris. The middle's for Matt.
00:49Tillman down the left side.
00:55Verhalter.
00:57Strong challenge there from Tillman.
00:59And here's Freeman in round the back.
01:01The line opens up. Alex Freeman!
01:06Incredible!
01:07Alex Freeman dances through.
01:10He's got two.
01:12And the United States are three to up on Uruguay after half an hour's play.
01:18Just a crunching tackle.
01:27And he just watched this lovely footwork.
01:31Excellent scale and balance.
01:32He's going to get to a certain bit of deflection at the end.
01:35But just...
01:35As the ball comes forth, there's a lot of little faint.
01:41We love this footwork.
01:42You know, just excellent control and tight spaces at top speed.
01:46You know, the deflection is what lifts it up over the goalkeeper.
01:49But this is tough.
01:50At top speed, you just...
01:52caress that ball in between the three defenders.
01:56What an incredible goal.
02:00And what a start for the U.S.
02:01A third career brace for club and country for Alex Freeman.
02:14Most recently, in September of last year, he had two goals for Orlando at Charlotte.
02:22Yeah, Coach Tino was talking.
02:23We got a chance to sit down with him as we normally do.
02:25And he was so high on this player.
02:28And, you know, referenced the power, the confidence, the personality, the ability to do things like that.
02:34But we haven't seen it often with country as much as we've seen it with his club teams.
02:41And I think he was a little bit timid in games I saw when he initially came into the U.S. camp.
02:45But playing with confidence now, for sure.
02:47Out it goes on the far side for an Uruguay corner.
02:58A very important challenge there.
03:05Gets it absolutely right, McKenzie.
03:11Big shout and a big punch away.
03:21Chipped back in by Zalazar.
03:25Landez rolls it back.
03:27He had that shot that rattled the crossbar.
03:31Zalazar.
03:33Vigate wide to the far side.
03:39McKenzie clears away.
03:40U.S. back line and keeper haven't had an awful lot to do so far tonight.
03:50Mackenzie, I'm screaming.
03:56Aji Wright trying to turn.
04:00Let's head back downstairs to Melissa Ortiz.
04:04Brace scorer Alex Freeman, who was named a 2025 MLS Young Player of the Year,
04:08when asked about managing the pressure afterwards, he says,
04:12yeah, I'm getting a lot of congrats from players and staff,
04:14but it's about keeping the same comfortability,
04:17keeping the confidence, even adding confidence to my game,
04:19and keeping consistency between national team and club team.
04:23Mauricio Pochettino said Alex is so powerful, he's so intense.
04:26When he goes forward, he can't stop.
04:28Guys, just talking to Mauricio, he's been very high on Alex Freeman.
04:32Zalazar's ball into the middle.
04:34Vina tries to find Nandes.
04:36Morris plays it away.
04:39Back out to the edge of the box.
04:42Federico Vinas nowhere close.
04:45Here's the other thing on Alex Freeman.
04:47You tend to forget that Freeman, MLS Young Player of the Year,
04:52he's now played in 13 of 14 games,
04:55and this is his 10th start since his debut,
04:57which was only against Turquie and Hartford in June.
05:00It seems like he's been around the international scene
05:02for a lot longer than that.
05:05But I think we are watching, I'll go early and say,
05:09someone's growing into becoming a star for this team.
05:12That's the side of the field when you think about Dest
05:15and the switch in formation that frees him up a little bit more,
05:18where he can be the attacking-minded person.
05:20If they can establish a wonderful dynamic over on that side of the field,
05:25a lot of times in those wide positions of your form and rosters
05:28and you're picking teams, you think about dynamics and chemistry.
05:31And that chemistry looks pretty good right now.
05:34Ten minutes before halftime here at Raymond James Stadium.
05:38Morris gets a touch to it.
05:43Luna finds Berhalter, who in turn plays it forward to Tillman.
05:50Two players on the same side tonight,
05:52but this weekend we'll be going up against each other
05:54in the Major League Soccer playoffs
05:56in the Western Conference Semifinal.
05:58Berhalter for Vancouver, Tillman for LAFC.
06:02Here's McKenzie at the back.
06:04You know, Luke, what's so interesting is we watch U.S. training a lot,
06:07we got to watch yesterday.
06:08And they do these, you know, you can kind of call them shadow drills,
06:11where they move in patterns with the ball.
06:12And Pochettino, that's where he gets really involved.
06:15And he wants speed, he wants dynamism,
06:18and it's almost choreographed to a certain level,
06:20and they've got these different looks
06:21and how they play out in transition.
06:23It almost looks like a shadow drill against a Euroblite.
06:25And it's so comfortable playing through that initial pressure.
06:28Pochettino's got to be thrilled with that.
06:37Alex Freeman's dad Antonio played in this stadium
06:54three times in the NFL.
06:56No touchdown.
06:58The sun has the two goals tonight.
07:01Luke, we've got to get you in that pirate ship over there.
07:14You want to call second half over there?
07:16You'd love that, wouldn't you?
07:17I've got a feeling that if anyone is suited to the pirate ship,
07:20it's Melissa Ortiz.
07:21I hope so.
07:22I hope so.
07:23I'm very much not a pirate kind of person.
07:32Luna.
07:37Now Berhalter.
07:39Wide to the left, touchline at Tolkien.
07:43Tolkien, lovely skill there as he plays the ball inside.
07:46Drop towards Aiden Morris.
07:48Now it's Berhalter.
07:49Left-hand touchline, Tillman with the pass back into the middle.
07:53Third out for a throw right by halfway here for the United States,
07:57who are winless in their last three against Uruguay.
08:00In fact, they've just scored one goal in their last three games
08:03against Uruguay.
08:05That's Marcelo Bielsa, who coached Argentina at the 2002 World Cup.
08:09And Chile to a round of 16 finish in 2010 when they lost against Brazil.
08:14Berhalter's ball forward here for right.
08:16Pull back for Luna.
08:17Luna.
08:17Luna.
08:23They just can't get a break.
08:26And one of the great parts about possessing the ball well
08:28and having that great spatial awareness and good positioning is
08:31the U.S. is in great spots to win the ball back in the counterpress.
08:35This is the right idea.
08:36Right looks.
08:37You can see that Luna's coming.
08:39It's well done to be intercepted before that.
08:43It's just a nice look to the sequence of the U.S.
08:46It's never one player moving, whether they have the ball or they don't.
08:49It's multiple players in transition getting their spots.
08:53They come dash forward.
08:58McKenzie.
08:59Betancourt in the midfield on the Europa League with Tottenham last season.
09:19He's been there almost five years.
09:23And the flag is up here on Nandes down the right side.
09:26And Nandes, who now plays for Al-Qadseer in the Saudi Pro League.
09:39He was sent off in the 2024 Copa America quarterfinal against Brazil
09:43when they lost on penalties.
09:45Of course, the last meeting between these two was the Copa America group stage
09:49at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City when the U.S. were eliminated.
09:53A 1-0 win that day for Uruguay.
10:04The impact match on TNT is presented by New York Life,
10:08proud sponsor of U.S. soccer.
10:10More powerful together.
10:11Three-nil, the scoreline here.
10:18One for Sebastian Berhalter.
10:21Two for Alex Freeman.
10:28Two other halves under Maurizio Pochettino
10:31where the U.S. have scored three and not conceded.
10:33One was in the Nations League a year ago, in fact,
10:37against Jamaica in November of 2024 in St. Louis.
10:43The home leg of that tie.
10:45The other one was against Trinidad and Tobago in the Gold Cup.
10:48Both first halves where they scored three and didn't concede.
10:52But I think very different circumstances for both of those games.
10:55Fair to say that this would be the best half of football under Maurizio Pochettino.
10:58Easy.
10:59For sure.
11:01We talked about intensity level, competitive nature, and spirit's been there.
11:05But there's still things that they've needed to improve on.
11:06There were still areas, you know, mistakes, lapses.
11:09This is headed towards that complete performance he's been looking for from the team.
11:14Let's see if they can maintain it.
11:16That's Bucks inside.
11:17This is Luna.
11:20We're holding it.
11:21Hachi Wright tries to get there, but Fiamarin came and claimed.
11:28The man Berhalter has been excellent on set pieces almost times right there.
11:47Inside the final four minutes.
11:50The first half that has been dominated by the United States from the opening whistle.
11:58Trusty.
12:04Down the line, kept in by Tolkien.
12:07Tolkien rolls it forward for Tilghman.
12:09Tilghman into the middle.
12:10It's Luna!
12:11It's four!
12:16Diego Luna with the goal.
12:18A quite remarkable first half performance from the United States.
12:22That's amazing how contagious confidence is.
12:37Look at this lovely little chip pass here from Chusky.
12:40And it just...
12:41Again, almost like a shadow drill.
12:44A beautiful sequence ball.
12:46Always in the right place.
12:47The pace, the pass.
12:49Yeah, he cuts back.
12:50Obviously, digress nicely for Luna.
12:52But it was headed right in front of Haji Wright if it doesn't come to Luna.
12:56And just calmly side-puts it right into the net.
12:59Very rare to have a performance like this where you don't even give...
13:04Fairmarine an opportunity to save efforts.
13:07It's just been irresistible from the U.S.
13:11The fourth international goal for Diego Luna.
13:15Cap number 18 for the Real Salt Lake Man.
13:20Luna's 15th appearance in a row tonight.
13:23His ninth start.
13:24The longest active streak of appearances of any player within this U.S. men's national team squad.
13:30And the U.S. has four goals in the first half of the game for the first time since the win against Garnett in Nashville on October of 2023.
13:42And coming up next is the Volkswagen Halftime Show.
13:45When Brad Guzan, Demarcus Beasley and Brian Dunser will join Sarah Walsh.
13:51And there's plenty for them to talk about.
13:55Rascaeta's ball forward.
14:00Rascaeta just, he just rushed here.
14:21Good pass into it, but just McKenzie, how quickly he comes there to put the pressure on.
14:27But you have to say, that's Bore from the number 10.
14:30Should be bearing that.
14:34Here's Melissa.
14:36On that dead ball, assistant coach Jesus and head coach Marisa Pochettino were yelling at Hadji Wright because he did not stand in front of the ball.
14:46Guys, we know that U.S. is leading 4-0, but that's the standard that the coaching staff wants to have from the team.
14:50Not to lay low, which almost resulted in a goal.
14:53So he was yelling at Hadji Wright because that's exactly what he wants to see out of players, even with this type of lead.
14:58It was 4-0.
14:59When you look down at the touch side, I mean, Rizzo Pochettino is waving his arms around on the edge of the technical area, furious with what just occurred there.
15:06That's, that's the standard, like, the standard is, there's never, a letdown, there's never a shutoff, and he dumped with a lot of that through the first year of his tenure.
15:19So, just holding the bar very, very high from a concentration and commitment standpoint.
15:24We're into one minute of time being added on at the end of the first half as Ugarte plays it backwards.
15:37Rizzo Pochettino couldn't quite get there, it's an opportunity here, and Tristan will clear it away.
15:45Inez down the left side towards the byline as he stands the cross back in, Tristan flips it for the clear.
15:50Oh, what a goal!
15:55Uruguay pull one back, Arascaeta!
16:01In stoppage time at the end of the half.
16:13Well, it starts with a mistake here, miscommunication.
16:16You know, you have three U.S. players all coming for the ball at the same time.
16:20You've got to say that's on Matt Freese.
16:21You've got to make sure that you come out and make that play, and, I mean, how about that?
16:26Arascaeta doesn't like to tap in.
16:28He's like, you know, give me something a little bit harder to do.
16:30That's about as good as that overhead kick can be.
16:33Lovely skill there.
16:35Capitalizes on the mistake made by the U.S.
16:37And that is the last kick of the first half, and Mauricio Pochettino is not happy.
16:47He's talking to the assistant referee, but he won't be happy that on a couple of occasions they're right at the end of the half.
16:53His team let Uruguay in.
16:56Only one goal against.
16:57They scored four.
16:59And the U.S. are in control here.
17:01The U.S. soccer impact match on TNT is presented by New York.
17:06Freeman with two goals.
17:08His first two international goals.
17:10Sebastian Berhalter had started the scoring before that.
17:13Luna got the fourth right before halftime.
17:16The Georgian de Arascaeta with a stunning strike.
17:20Pulled one back for Uruguay in first half stoppage time.
17:24Coming into the game, Rodrigo Aguirre, Brian Rodriguez.
17:28And at the back, Joaquin Piquerez.
17:32As Marcelo Bielsa makes those three changes, he brings out Matthias Viña, the left back.
17:39He also brings out Rodrigo Salazar and Federico Viña,
17:44who didn't really touch the ball much in that first half.
17:47The man on loan at Oviedo in Spain.
17:51So Bielsa clearly not happy.
17:55And hoping that that late strike from Diarrascaeta
18:01can try and spark some life into his side.
18:05No changes made by Maurizio Pochettino.
18:09At the midway mark, as Diego Luna, who got that fourth goal,
18:12and then scored his fourth for his country
18:16in the 40-second minute.
18:20This is back for Freeman.
18:24Freeman, of course, having success tonight
18:26in his home stake where he plays with Orlando City.
18:30Uruguay, the first time ever trailing by three goals at half-time
18:43against a CONCACAF team.
18:47The United States, it's only the second time ever
18:50scoring four goals in a game against a common ball opponent.
18:53That came in 2016, a 4-0 win against Bolivia,
18:57but they got the four goals here
18:58in the space of just 42 first-half minutes.
19:08That's a goal.
19:13Garte.
19:13Garte, down the left side, the substitute who came in at half-time.
19:26Garte's playing in the left-back position now.
19:31Homeros defender.
19:35His 18th cap, he came back in March after a knee injury.
19:38He forced his way into the World Cup squad.
19:41This is Freeman.
19:43Forward over half-way for Tillman.
19:45Pushed into the path of Haji Wright.
19:47Right here.
19:48There's a chance for the way to open up,
19:50but couldn't get the shot away.
19:53That's in core, brings it clear for a halter,
19:55wins it back here.
19:55This is Tillman.
19:56Tillman might have a go from distance.
19:58He stings the part of Pierre-Marine.
20:00Everyone's in confident mood, Kyle.
20:15I think Pochettino's message when he was talking to Melissa
20:17is about, don't let that turn into
20:20mismanaging the game.
20:22Don't let confidence turn into complacency
20:25and taking risks that you wouldn't take
20:26if the scoreline was nil-nil.
20:27A couple of changes
20:42for Marcelo Bielsa from an attacking sense
20:46as he brings in Rodrigo Aguirre,
20:50the 31-year-old forward who plays for Cop of America,
20:53played 90 minutes against Mexico.
20:55Three goals in World Cup qualifying.
20:57And there's down the right side.
21:01As it goes up, Aiden Morris.
21:05And also Brian Rodriguez coming in as well.
21:08Another America man who started against Mexico.
21:12Former LAFC man.
21:14Who won the 2019 Supporters Shield
21:16in Los Angeles.
21:18Three goals on the far side.
21:21Screams coming from the bench
21:28towards the fourth official on the near side.
21:34Rodriguez, as that ball comes through,
21:37it's actually...
21:38Betancourt.
21:39Betancourt.
21:41I don't think he intends that.
21:43You saw he slipped.
21:44I mean, it's so unlucky for Tolkien
21:45because that one hurts.
21:46Betancourt was actually just trying to get his footing
21:48and slipped right into him.
21:49Matrizio Pochettino with a 4-1 lead over a man he has admired and learnt from for so long.
22:10Pochettino and Bielsa managing against each other three times before.
22:16All in La Liga when Matrizio Pochettino was with Espanyol.
22:20Bielsa was with Athletic Club.
22:22Pochettino unbeaten in three meetings against Marcelo Bielsa.
22:26A couple of draws in 2012, a 2-1 win in 2011.
22:32Pochettino playing under Bielsa with Newell's old boys.
22:34Won two league titles in Argentina.
22:37Also played under him for Espanyol.
22:41And all of Pochettino's 20 caps for Argentina,
22:44including the World Cup in 2002,
22:46coming under the man he's going up against tonight.
22:50Aji Wright.
22:52Akira picks it up.
22:53Gareth Guetta couldn't get there, comes back for Freeman.
23:01Luia.
23:19Freeman's ball inside here for Berhalter.
23:21Morris.
23:24I think we've all got a touch to that one.
23:27This first man puts it out to Diaz Guetta.
23:31Down the left side by Ipera as the substitute for Berhalter.
23:36And they win it back on halfway,
23:37but it goes out wide to that far side,
23:39and Nandez carries it forward.
23:40A 72nd cap tonight,
23:42and Nandez, 29-year-old defender.
23:44That's the 10-ball-time meeting between these teams and the U.S.
23:58Just with two victories down the years against Uruguay.
24:01The last one was a 2-1 win in May of 2002
24:06at RFK Stadium.
24:09DeMarcus Beasley scored the winner.
24:11I believe we saw that spectacular goal in the pregame show.
24:14is Dest racing forward down the right side.
24:19Dest ball in.
24:20Hatching right, couldn't quite get there.
24:27The only other U.S. win was back in May of 1991
24:30by one goal to nil.
24:36Freeman.
24:36Hatching inside for Morris.
24:42Tillman.
24:44Gets it back from Luna.
24:46Tillman coming on in the 75th minute against Paraguay.
24:50It's his first appearance since his debut back in January of 2024
24:54against Slovenia in January camp in San Antonio.
25:02Pushing from Morris,
25:03but he's given away the foul.
25:06Maximiliano and Araujo,
25:09the player that is fouled.
25:18Araujo, the sporting man.
25:2226th cap for him.
25:28Football in the Champions League
25:30in early November at Juventus
25:32against Weston McKinney that day.
25:34Maxi Araujo.
25:45Things have slowed down somewhat
25:47after the breathless first 45 minutes here
25:50at Raymond James Stadium.
25:52It'll be interesting to see how Pochettino uses his bench.
25:56What time does he go to it?
25:58Obviously, you've got some players that,
26:00a game that is going to be open with Uruguay chasing it.
26:02An excellent threat.
26:05Perfect position to bring them in.
26:07Expect to see Gio Reyna at some point.
26:08Perfect game for him.
26:12There have been a long way to get involved.
26:14It goes back to Ugarte.
26:15Now Araujo down that right side.
26:24The Barcelona man will quickly take the throw here
26:27to get things going once again.
26:30He's holding three of Barcelona's four Champions League games
26:33this year.
26:34Ball played forward as Gio Rey chasing.
26:49And he's into it with Trustee here.
26:50Really well done from Trustee.
26:59I mean, he read that.
27:00It had to be physical.
27:02I'm sure he was able to get it over the end line.
27:04I think that back three has been excellent.
27:07Just a little after.
27:11It was all smiles this time,
27:13but again,
27:14the U.S. players were right around the situation.
27:16U.S. unbeaten in four straight
27:27against FIFA top 40 teams
27:29for the first time
27:30since 2015.
27:33This will break it five.
27:38Betancourt.
27:42Down to the left of Vincerez
27:43who has no chance of getting there.
27:45And you can see Berhalter at the midfield
27:46clapping Diego Luna for that effort.
27:48I mean, those little things
27:49we talked about in the first half
27:50make such a difference.
27:54You're consistently putting the head down
27:55to defenders.
27:56You're pressing.
27:56You're making things difficult.
27:58It's not always with the ball.
27:59You affect the game.
28:00And Diego Luna,
28:01I'm sure he wants to get on the ball
28:02a little more,
28:02wants his chances in the final der.
28:04But we've seen him almost like a wingback
28:06getting into that back line
28:07to defend at times.
28:09Legate here just inside his own half.
28:11Wide with Vincerez down the left.
28:12side from Araujo.
28:27Rodriguez on that far side.
28:28The substitute back for Betancourt.
28:30Uruguay with a bit of possession here
28:31just over ten minutes into the second half.
28:34Legate playing it back.
28:36Oliveira forward.
28:40Betancourt wide to the right.
28:41Andes there leaping up with Rodriguez
28:46as the cross is deep for Abiré.
28:48But Chesky flicks it up.
28:49Berhalter tries to get it further clear.
28:52Down for Betancourt.
28:53Put in from Tolkien.
28:57Now it's playing close.
28:58Goal!
28:58Freeze has to get there.
29:00Behind it goes for a corner.
29:02Jaroscaeta already has one tonight.
29:06Flash that shot towards goal.
29:08You wonder if he's trying this.
29:10I don't think so.
29:10I think he's just trying it with pace
29:12and just slices it
29:13but almost catches Freeze near post.
29:19Rodriguez takes it back out
29:20all the way towards Picares
29:23who drives it from distance.
29:25That one went off.
29:25Berhalter.
29:26Luna.
29:26McKenzie helps it on.
29:36Rodriguez with the cross in deep
29:37in towards the back post.
29:43Picares.
29:45Stillman got attached to it.
29:46Betancourt plays it out.
29:47Here's another look.
29:55And you can see
29:55he just catches it off the end of his toe.
29:57Freeze had to be there
29:58to make the save.
29:59That was going to sneak in
29:59that near post.
30:01Well done.
30:01Let's see.
30:02Well done.
30:04It's Regency.
30:05Him.
30:07Hö給 you.
30:08He's ready.
30:09Go up.
30:09He's ready.
30:11He's ready.
30:11He's ready.
30:12He's ready.
30:13He's ready.
30:13He gli wrote.
30:16I'm ready.
30:18He's ready.
30:21corps auf dich.
30:23i'm ready.
30:24I'm ready.
30:24I'm ready.
30:25I'm ready.
30:26I'm ready.
30:27Yeah.
30:28That's cuz I'm ready.
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