Alex Zendejas and Folarin Balogun scored to give the United States a 2-0 win over Japan on Tuesday in an international football friendly.
Zendjas scored in the 30th minute and Monaco striker Balogun added an insurance goal in the 64th minute when the Americans improved to 7-6 with one this year with the triumph for 20.192 in Columbus, Ohio.
«Just wait for my moment,» said Zendjas, a winger for the club America from Mexico. «It’s crazy to record all this. I had not expected to be called. Just try to take advantage of every occasion.»
Mexico would face South Korea at a later friendly in Nashville, Tennessee.
All four teams have qualified for next year’s World Cup, Japan and South Korea by Asian qualification and the US and Mexico as fellow guests with Canada of the worldwide confrontation.
South Korea beat the Americans 2-0 on Saturday, the same day that Japan and Mexico played into a aimless draw.
Japan exchanged all 11 starters from the Mexico, as the American coach Mauricio Pochettino changed five starters of the defeat of South Korea.
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The goalkeeper of Japan Keisuke Osako made nine saves in a losing cause, while Matt Freese had six for the shutout.
«It shows us it works,» Freese said about the triumph. «We all believe in the plan and the process, but tangible results such as tonight, it just makes it even clearer.»
«If we are brave and we will, if we are aggressive and play like us, when we can stay with the best and play really good things, we are a difficult team to play against when we are at our best.»
The Americans took a 1-0 lead when the cross of Max Arfsten of the left wing in the heart of the box was struck with a left foot leg by transmitting jacket in the top left corner of the goal.
«Fortunately, the ball came my way,» said Zendjas. «I came to the left from the left, I had to finish that.»
Balogun scored the other goal, took a ball along the left side of Christian Pulisic and shoots a left shot from a steep corner to the other side of the goal.
«It was important to achieve the victory,» said Balogun. «We are building something big here. It takes time. The result was the most important thing. Trust. I think it’s really important. I am happy with the performance of the team.»
Published on September 10, 2025
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