USA vs. Japan score: USMNT result, stats as Pochettino ends September break with impressive win

Kyle Bonn

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USA vs. Japan score: USMNT result, stats as Pochettino ends September break with impressive win image

At last, Mauricio Pochettino and the United States have a reprieve from the struggles against quality opponents.

The USMNT topped Japan 2-0 in a friendly from Columbus on Tuesday evening behind goals from Alejandro Zendejas and Folarin Balogun, breaking a seven-game losing streak to teams amongst the top 30 of FIFA’s rankings.

The victory comes against a rotated Japan team that made 10 changes to the side that played to a scoreless draw against Mexico days earlier, but was a positive performance nonetheless.

Zendejas was the top U.S. performer, with an absolutely cracking goal and overall dangerous play in the attacking third. Christian Pulisic also looked impressive creating numerous chances, and Balogun scored his first international goal since the Copa America.

It could have been even more for the U.S. had it not been for no fewer than three absolutely sensational saves by Japan goalkeeper Keisuke Osako down the stretch, who denied Jack McGlynn, Damion Downs, and Sergino Dest of certain goals.

The U.S. ends the September international break with one win and one defeat, and the players will now return to their clubs to await the October break which will bring games against Ecuador and Australia.

The Sporting News followed the USA vs. Japan match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.

JUMP TO: Latest live updates | Team news and lineups | Full match stats

USA vs. Japan final score

 ScoreGoal scorers
USA2Zendejas (30'),
Balogun (64')
Japan0–

Location: Lower.com Field (Columbus, OH)
Referee: Bryan Lopez (GUA)

Starting lineups:

USA (3-5-2, right to left): 1. Freese (GK) — 3. Richards, 13. Ream, 15. Blackmon (Harriel, 84') — 16. Freeman, 4. Adams (de la Torre, 65'), 17. Zendejas (McGlynn, 65'), 24. Roldan, 18. Arfsten (Dest, 65') — 10. Pulisic (Luna, 65'), 20. Balogun (Downs, 80').

Japan (3-4-3, right to left): 12. Osako (GK) — 5. Nagatomo (Seko, 46'), 25. Araki, 16. Sekine — 26. Mochizuki (Sugawara, 73'), 17. Fujita (Kamada, 62'), 21. Sano, 11. Maeda (Mitoma, 62') — 14. Ito, 19. Ogawa (Machino, 73'), 13. Suzuki (Minamino, 62').

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USA vs. Japan stats

USAStatJapan
19Shots11
11Shots on target6
55%Possession45%
482Accurate passes366
3Corners6
8Fouls13
1Yellow cards2

USA vs. Japan live updates, highlights from international friendly

FULLTIME: USA 2-0 Japan

For the first time in a while, the U.S. looked strong against a good opponent, as they come away with a multi-goal victory. It could have been even more than the two-goal margin, if not for the heroics of Japan goalkeeper Keisuke Osako.

The victory is a win for those who championed the tactical change, with Pochettino's 3-4-2-1 formation looking like a great switch. We'll see what Mauricio Pochettino does with the lessons learned in this month's international break, and fans will learn a lot by who is called in for the October window.

88th min: Chance, USA! Keisuke Osako makes ANOTHER stunning save, this time to deny Sergino Dest a goal! This could have been an onslaught if not for the the 26-year-old on his 11th international appearance!

Three minutes of stoppage time are shown.

86th min: Chance, USA! Damion Downs is the latest U.S. forward to be denied a certain goal by a stunning Keisuke Osako save! He plays a glorious one-two with Diego Luna to get free, but his shot from 10 yards out is denied by another full-stretch Osaka stop!

83rd min: Chance, USA! HOW HAS JACK MCGLYNN NOT SCORED?!?!?! He takes a left-footed cracker from the top of the penalty area off a Sergino Dest layoff, and cannons it off the underside of the crossbar which strikes straight down into the ground and bounces away without crossing the line! So unlucky!

79th min: Chance, USA! Jack McGlynn is denied a goal by a SENSATIONAL save by Keisuke Osako! The Japan goalkeeper goes full stretch to palm away the deflected curler, which was destined for the bottom corner! That's absolutely world-class!

After the chance, Folarin Balogun is withdrawn and replaced by Damion Downs up front.

70th min: Chance, Japan! WHOA! Koki Ogawa smashes the crossbar from miles away! Matt Freese had no warning that shot was coming, and all he could do was stand and watch as the ball floated towards the net from way far out, only to blast the woodwork and ping back out! Almost a world-class stunner!

That's his last action of the match, as he's withdrawn for Shuto Machino, while Yukinari Sugawara replaces Henry Mochizuki.

65th min: Right after the goal, Mauricio Pochettino makes his first substitutions, and there are four of them. Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic, Alejandro Zendejas, and Max Arfsten are withdrawn, replaced by Diego Luna, Sergino Dest, Luca de la Torre, and Jack McGlynn. Zendejas played really really well.

64th min: GOAL! USA! Folarin Balogun scores a very quick-strike goal as Japan are stunned! It's too easy for the hosts, as Christian Pulisic charges down the left and feeds a vertical ball for the Monaco striker. He finishes a pinpoint strike from a tight angle that evades the goalkeeper and clips off the inside of the far post!

It's Balogun's first international goal since the Copa America last summer!

61st min: Yuito Suzuki is shown a yellow card for clearly yanking Alejandro Zendejas back by his shoulder. Referee had no choice but to book the Japan forward, as the visitors prepare a number of changes.

Takumi Minamino headlines the quality trio set to come on, alongside Daichi Kamada and Karou Mitoma. Joel Fujita, Daizen Maeda, and Yuito Suzuki are replaced, while Mauricio Pochettino is yet to make a substitution of his own.

54th min: Chance, USA! Christian Pulisic forces a near-post save! Folarin Balogun wins the ball back high up the field, and with his back to goal he taps it to a full-speed Pulisic charging into the Japan penalty area. The AC Milan star splits two defenders with a powerful run and fires on goal, but Keisuke Osako makes the tight-angle save!

2nd half kickoff: There's one change at the break as Japan make a defensive substitution, bringing on Ayumu Seko to replace 38-year-old Yuto Nagatomo.

HALFTIME: USA 1-0 Japan

The U.S. looked strong over the first 45 minutes, creating a few good chances on net and preventing too many opportunities at the other end. Largely, the tactical changes worked as the U.S. was in command for much of the period against a heavily rotated Japan side.

Alejandro Zendejas scored an absolute banger of a goal to put them in front, but this game remains somewhat in the balance until Japan turn the tide or the U.S. build a multi-goal lead. The chance at the end of the half was concerning for the U.S.

45th min: Chance, Japan! A visiting attacker nearly crashed home an equalizer, but Chris Richards makes a vital block! The ball arrives square from out wide on the right, and the midfielder comes racing at full speed onto the ball to rip a piledriver on frame, but 

On the recycle, there's another shot, this time from a tight angle on the left, but it's parried well by Matt Freese who had the near post covered.

39th min: Christian Pulisic, working one-on-one with a defender cutting inside from the left, gets stonewalled at first but sticks with it and wins the ball back, working a shot that's challenged hard and blocked. It's a half-chance at best in the end, but give Pulisic credit for staying with that after being picked by his man.

34th min: Koki Ogawa is booked for a late challenge on Tristan Blackmon who is looking to boot the ball away. It's a soft yellow card, as Ogawa doesn't make a ton of dangerous contact, but maybe does clip Blackmon's leg as he's mid-kick.

30th min: GOAL! USA! ALEJANDRO ZENDAJAS WITH AN ABSOLUTE BEAUTY OF A GOAL!!!

Max Arfsten cooks his defender out wide to the left, and works space for a cross which he whips to the top of the six-yard box which Zendejas is waiting. The Club America star turns and fires the ball first-time, blazing a scorching volley from 10 feet out past a diving goalkeeper into the bottom far corner of the net! 

23rd min: Alejandro Zendejas picks up an early yellow card for a thumping tackle on Henry Mochizuki where it appears he got the ball first but also cleaned out his opponent in the process.

18th min: Chance, USA! Oh wow, how did Folarin Balogun not score?!?!?! It looks like a great double-save by Keisuke Osako who manages to parry away two attempts from Balogun! Then Alejandro Zendejas had a chance at the end of it and couldn't get past the goalkeeper either! It should be the U.S. in the lead!

10th min: Japan have their first chance on net but Daizen Maeda puts his point-blank shot over the crossbar, and the flag is up for offside anyways.

In the aftermath, Tyler Adams is down holding his knee, which is a concern, but he gets to his feet with a grimace and will continue.

8th min: Christian Pulisic has the first quality chance of the match but skies it well over the crossbar off a back-heel from Folarin Balogun. The U.S. looks dangerous early on, but that is no more than a meager shot in the stat sheet.

4th min: The U.S. are playing a 5-2-2-1, with Cristian Roldan and Tyler Adams sitting behind Christian Pulisic and Alejandro Zendejas.

Kickoff: They're under way in Columbus! Can the United States turn things around against quality opponents or will the struggles compound for Mauricio Pochettino?

USA vs. Japan: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: Mauricio Pochettino says the USMNT will approach this match differently from the South Korea match, which was at least somewhat apparent by the formation change. Poch mentions the desire to send a message to the fans that they can win the match and create chances.

30 mins to kickoff: Japan have rotated almost their entire lineup, as Hajime Moriyasu made 10 changes to the lineup that began the 0-0 draw with Mexico on the weekend. Only Celtic forward Daezan Maeda retains his starting spot, and even he is likely to change positions, potentially moving to left wing-back.

45 mins to kickoff: There was hope that Mauricio Pochettino would give young defender Noahkai Banks a start tonight, especially considering how Tristan Blackmon played last match and the belief that they would go with three central defenders, but he is not in the XI. It may have to do with talk of a slight injury he picked up during training that kept him out of the squad entirely against South Korea.

Either way, Banks is very highly thought of as a defensive prospect, and it would be exciting to see him out on the pitch for the USMNT.

1 hour to kickoff: Lineups are in! Indeed, as speculated, the U.S. goes with three central defenders, as Tim Ream, Chris Richards, and Tristan Blackmon all start at the back.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: The U.S. is already looking further into the future of their World Cup preparation, with reports today that they are searching for friendly opponents in March. The Athletic reported that they are in discussions with both Belgium and Portugal for the March international break, while French publication L'Equipe reported that France are also an option for the United States and other 2026 World Cup co-hosts.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: There has been some buzz that the USMNT may play with a three center-back system tonight, which Mauricio Pochettino did not deny in his presser yesterday. We will find out soon whether that comes to pass.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: The U.S. men under Mauricio Pochettino have one win and seven defeats in eight games under Mauricio Pochettino against top-30 ranked international sides. Despite claiming that friendlies matter just as much as competitive games during his introductory presser, Pochettino made it clear ahead of this match that he did not feel the same way any longer.

Pochettino said he believes filling out the depth chart is more important than winning friendlies. "We need to provide time to players who maybe have no experience," he said yesterday. "And maybe we can struggle and make mistakes and compromise the result. Of course I want to win, but also we need to think of the process."

We'll see how that process plays out tonight.

2 hours to kickoff: Mauricio Pochettino took the stand yesterday as he does the day before every match, but this time felt different. The USMNT head coach was on the offensive from the start, and took each question as an opportunity to spin the narrative back to his attack on recent criticism.

USA vs. Japan lineups, team news

Just like he did over the summer, Pochettino has called in a squad largely consisting of fringe players. He seemed to indicate speaking to the media that this was the last opportunity for these individuals to make an impression before the first-choice regulars return to the fold. It's likely that he makes significant changes from the South Korea defeat to this game, and he hinted as much in his fiery pre-match press conference.

Christian Pulisic is back with the USMNT after his controversial absence over the summer and played the full 90 minutes against South Korea, while Folarin Balogun is also back in the mix after missing significant time last season due to injury and poor form. Josh Sargent had another chance to show his national-team credentials amidst another hot start to the season with Norwich City, but he came up empty in 62 minutes in last week's defeat. Cristian Roldan was a late addition to the roster, while Sean Zawadzki pulled out of camp after suffering a knee injury in training.

Injury absences include Antonee Robinson, who has only just returned from offseason knee surgery. Patrick Agyemang has yet to make his debut for Derby County due to a hernia, while Malik Tillman was left off as he's only just made his Bayer Leverkusen debut due to a calf issue, and Ricardo Pepi has only seen one substitute appearance after returning from a knee injury. Pochettino will be wary of overusing Sergino Dest and Balogun, both of whom are only just back from long-term injuries of their own.

USA starting lineup (3-5-2): Freese (GK) — Richards, Ream, Blackmon — Freeman, Zendejas, Adams, Roldan, Arfsten — Pulisic, Balogun.

USA subs: Klinsmann (GK), Dest, Harriel, Banks, McGlynn, de la Torre, Berhalter, Luna, Weah, Sargent, Downs. 

Japan have brought a full-strength squad to the United States for their pair of September friendlies, with European-based stars Wataru Endo, Takefusa Kubo, Kaoru Mitoma, Daichi Kamada, Daizen Maeda, and Takumi Minamino in tow.

Bayern Munich defender Hiroki Ito has been missing since March due to a fractured foot, while domestic-based midfielder Koki Kumasaka is still recovering from a torn ACL. Defender Tomoya Ando was called in but withdrew from the squad due to injury.

With both sides likely to rotate due to the quick turnaround, the likes of Daizen Maeda, Junya Ito, and Yukinari Sugawara could come in after coming off the bench against Mexico.

Japan starting lineup (3-4-3): Osako (GK) — Nagatomo, Araki, Sekine — Mochizuki, Fujita, Sano, Maeda — Ito, Ogawa, Suzuki.

Japan subs: Hayakawa (GK), Suzuki (GK), Seko, Itakura, Watanabe, Sugawara, Kamada, Sano, Minamino, Endo, Ueda, Mitoma, Hosoya, Machino, Kubo.

USA vs. Japan live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match across the United States:

  • English:
    • TV: TNT
    • Streaming: Max, Sling
  • Spanish:
    • TV: Universo
    • Streaming: Peacock, Universo NOW

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.