In Saint Louis, Chile’s North American tour closed with another hard lesson. Ricardo Gareca’s side briefly held a 2-1 lead over the United States after half-time, but a young home team recovered to win 4-2 in a friendly that ended amid a stoppage-time confrontation.
A promising Chilean turn in Saint Louis
Chile arrived in Missouri after a 1-0 defeat to Canada in Toronto, a match in which Gabriel Suazo and Lucas Cepeda were sent off. Their second friendly of the international window seemed to be moving in a better direction when Diego Ulloa and Maximiliano Gutiérrez overturned an early American advantage.
- Sebastian Berhalter put the United States ahead, following a strong individual run from Sergiño Dest.
- Ulloa levelled before the interval, finding the finish after a corner from the right produced a series of loose-ball rebounds in the box.
- Gutiérrez then gave Chile the lead shortly after the restart, driving down the left, cutting inside and striking firmly with his right foot from outside the area beyond Chris Brady.
Berhalter’s goal was his second in consecutive matches for the United States. The midfielder is the son of former US national-team coach Gregg Berhalter.
The United States find their response
The Chilean lead did not last long. Julian Hall restored parity in the 51st minute, also scoring for the second successive appearance with the national side, and the momentum increasingly belonged to the hosts.
Chile goalkeeper Vigouroux made important interventions as the United States pressed for another goal, but the breakthrough came in the 72nd minute. Berhalter supplied the cross and Chris Richards converted it to complete the comeback.
- 51st minute: Julian Hall made it 2-2.
- 72nd minute: Chris Richards headed or turned in Berhalter’s delivery for 3-2.
- Stoppage time: Mathis Albert completed the 4-2 result.
Albert was another young player given an opportunity by United States coach Mauricio Pochettino during this run of friendlies. His late strike secured a four-goal American total and left Chile with two defeats from two matches on North American soil during the window.
Late confrontation mars the finish
There was little competitive consequence at stake in the closing moments, but tempers flared after Leandro Hernández approached United States goalkeeper Brian Schwake while he was on the ground holding the ball. Hernández made light contact with his boot, prompting Richards to challenge him.
A brief melee followed, and both Hernández and Richards were booked. The incident provided an abrasive conclusion to a night in which Chile had shown enough to take control for a spell, only for the United States to turn the match decisively in the second half.
