USMNT beats Japan 2-0, ends 7-game winless streak against top 25 teams

The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) snapped their seven-game winless streak against top-25 ranked teams with a 2-0 victory over JapanTuesday night in Columbus, Ohio. Goals from Alejandro Zendejas and Folarin Balogun sealed the result. The USMNT had failed to beat a top 25 team since the CONCACAF Nations League final against Mexico in March 2024, including five straight defeats.

The 15th-ranked USMNT was coming off a 2-0 loss to South Korea on Saturday in the first of eight friendlies. Japan, ranked 17 in FIFA rankings, fielded a second string side as they changed all 11 starters from Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Mexico. The Americans dominated the entire match with a 19-11 in advantage in shots against Japan before a pro-American sellout crowd of 20,192 at Lower.com Field.



Zendejas opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a fine precisive left-foot volley, from near the penalty spot, after connecting a long cross from left back Max Arfsten. It was Zendejas' second goal in 13 international appearances.


Balogun doubled the lead, with his sixth international goal in the 64th minute, after beating goalkeeper Keisuke Osako with an angled shot on Christian Pulisic's through pass. Later, Japan’s Koki Ogawa rattled the crossbar in the 70th minute, followed by Jack McGlynn doing the same for the US in the 83rd.


Chris Richards, Alex Freeman, Cristian Roldan, Zendejas, and Balogun were drafted into the starting XI, replacing Sergiño Dest, Diego Luna, Sebastian Berhalter, Tim Weah, and Josh Sargent. It was the first time since 2018 that Tyler Adams and Roldan started together, with Roldan marking his first start in 26 months.