USMNT Closes 2025 With Dominant 5–1 Win Over No. 15 Uruguay

Jonathan Turner
8 hours ago
3 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

Berhalter, Freeman, Tessmann Score First International Goals; USA Finishes Year With 10 Wins

TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 18, 2025) — The U.S. Men’s National Team capped off the 2025 calendar year in emphatic fashion, rolling to a 5–1 victory over 15th-ranked, World Cup-bound Uruguay at Raymond James Stadium. Four first-half goals set the tone for one of the USMNT’s most complete performances of the year, sending the squad confidently into the final two camps before the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.

FIRST-HALF FIREWORKS

After a back-and-forth opening spell, the U.S. struck first in the 17th minute. Haji Wright earned a dangerous free kick, and Sebastian Berhalter worked a quick combination with Sergiño Dest before curling a spectacular right-footed strike into the top corner — his first international goal.

Just three minutes later, the U.S. doubled the lead. Off a Berhalter corner, Alex Freeman elevated above the pack and nodded home his first career goal to make it 2–0.

The U.S. continued to pour on pressure, and in the 31st minute Freeman struck again. A crunching tackle from Timmy Tillman sparked a counterattack, Auston Trusty delivered a perfect first-time ball, and Freeman weaved through traffic to finish from close range for his first international brace.

In the 42nd minute, the Americans made it 4–0. A fluid left-side sequence—Trusty to Tolkin to Tillman—ended with Diego Luna calmly finishing between two defenders.

Uruguay pulled one back in first-half stoppage time on a bicycle kick from Giorgian de Arrascaeta, trimming the score to 4–1 at the break.

SECOND-HALF CONTROL

Uruguay’s hopes were dashed in the 64th minute when Rodrigo Bentancur was shown a red card. The U.S. capitalized quickly as substitutes Gio Reyna and Tanner Tessmann connected on a short-corner routine, with Tessmann heading home Reyna’s service in the 68th minute for his first international goal.

FINAL: USA 5, URUGUAY 1

The victory extends the USMNT’s unbeaten streak against World Cup-qualified opponents to five matches and hands Uruguay its first loss in seven games. The Americans close their 2025 campaign with a 10-6-2 record.

GOAL SCORING SUMMARY

USA 1–0 (17’): Sebastian Berhalter (Sergiño Dest) — curling golazo from the left side of the boxUSA 2–0 (20’): Alex Freeman (Sebastian Berhalter) — towering header off a cornerUSA 3–0 (31’): Alex Freeman (Auston Trusty) — solo effort after a sharp counterattackUSA 4–0 (42’): Diego Luna — smooth finish from a low Tillman passURU 4–1 (45+1’): Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Rodrigo Zalazar) — overhead kickUSA 5–1 (68’): Tanner Tessmann (Gio Reyna) — flicked header from Reyna’s lofted ball

MATCH NOTES

Berhalter, Freeman, and Tessmann all scored their first international goals.
Freeman becomes the first USMNT defender with a brace since Aaron Long (2019).
Auston Trusty has recorded an assist in every U.S. start of his career.
Diego Luna finishes 2025 with four goals and a team-high 16 appearances.
The win is the USMNT’s third all-time vs. Uruguay, and first since 2002.
The 4-goal margin ties the largest U.S. win vs. a South American opponent (Bolivia, 2016).
It also ties the largest margin of victory vs. a FIFA top-15 opponent (Mexico, 1995).
The U.S. has now gone five straight unbeaten vs. FIFA top-40 teams for the first time since 2013.

MATCH DETAILS

Match: USA vs. UruguayDate: Nov. 18, 2025 | Competition: International FriendlyVenue: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Fla.)Attendance: 26,110 | Kickoff: 7 p.m. ETWeather: 72° and clear

Scoring Summary

Team	1	2	F
USA	4	1	5
URU	1	0	1

USA LINEUP

USA (4-3-3):1-Matt Freese; 15-Auston Trusty, 22-Mark McKenzie (C), 16-Alex Freeman;3-John Tolkin (18-Max Arfsten, 75’), 17-Sebastian Berhalter, 23-Aidan Morris (6-Cristian Roldan, 89’), 2-Sergiño Dest (8-Tanner Tessmann, 61’);10-Diego Luna (7-Gio Reyna, 61’), 14-Timmy Tillman (11-Brenden Aaronson, 75’), 19-Haji Wright (20-Folarin Balogun, 60’)

Subs Not Used: Scally, Pepi, Robinson, Ream, Klinsmann, Celentano, SchulteHead Coach: Mauricio Pochettino

URUGUAY LINEUP

Uruguay: Fiermarín; Viña (Piquerez 45’), Olivera, Araujo, Nández; Ugarte, Bentancur (C) (sent off 64’), Maxi Araújo (Torres 72’), De Arrascaeta (Martínez 67’), Zalazar; Viñas (Aguirre 45’)Head Coach: Marcelo Bielsa