Credit: Robin Alam - ISIPhotos.com
USMNT 2 – Japan 0, international friendly
The United States closed out the September 2025 international window with a 2-0 win over Japan in Columbus, OH. The USMNT took the lead from an Alex Zendejas goal in the 30th. Folarin Balogun doubled the lead in the 64th with Christian Pulisic assisting. USA goalkeeper Matt Freese recorded the shutout with six saves.
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Match: United States Men’s National Team vs Japan
Date: September 9, 2025
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Lower.com Field; Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 20,192
Kickoff: 7:30pm ET
Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
USA 1 1 2
JPN 0 0 0
USA – Alex Zendejas (Max Arfsten) 30th minute
USA – Folarin Balogun (Christian Pulisic) 64
Lineups:
USA: 1-Matt Freese; 15-Tristan Blackmon (19-Nathan Harriel, 84), 3-Chris Richards, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.); 16-Alex Freeman, 4-Tyler Adams (2-Sergiño Dest, 66), 24-Cristian Roldan, 18-Max Arfsten (14-Luca de la Torre, 66); 17-Alex Zendejas (7-Diego Luna, 65), 20-Folarin Balogun (11-Damion Downs, 79), 10-Christian Pulisic (6-Jack McGlynn, 66)
Substitutes not used: 12-Jonathan Klinsmann, 5-Noahkai Banks, 8-Sebastian Berhalter, 9-Josh Sargent, 21-Tim Weah
Head coach: Mauricio Pochettino
JPN: 12-Keisuke Osako; 26-Henry Mochizuki (18-Shuto Machino, 73), 21-Kaishu Sano, 25-Hayato Araki; 16-Hiroki Sekine, 17-Joel Chima Fujita (15-Diachi Kamada, 62), 13-Yuito Suzuki (8-Takumi Minamino, 62), 5-Yuto Nagatomo (Capt.) (22-Ayumu Seko, 46); 14-Junya Ito, 19-Koki Ogawa (2-Yukinari Sugawara, 73), 11-Daizen Maeda (7-Kaoru Mitoma, 62)
Substitutes not used: 1-Zion Suzuki, 3-Tsuyoshi Watanabe, 4-Ko Itakura, 6-Wataru Endo, 9-Ayase Ueda, 10-Takefusa Kubo, 20-Kodai Sano, 23-Tomoki Hayakawa, 24-Mao Hosoya
Head coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Stats Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 19 / 11
Shots on Goal: 11 / 6
Saves: 6 / 9
Corner Kicks: 3 / 6
Fouls: 1 / 2
Offside: 8 / 13
Misconduct Summary
USA – Alex Zendejas (caution) 23rd minute
JPN – Koki Ogawa (Caution) 35
JPN – Yuito Suzuki (Caution) 61
Officials:
Referee: Bryan Lopez (GUA)
Assistant 1: Juan Topaz (GUA)
Assistant 2: Cristian Alvarado (GUA)
Fourth Official: Julio Luna (GUA)
