17-Year-Old Mathis Albert Makes History as USA Beat Chile
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
ST LOUIS: Teenager Mathis Albert made history by becoming the youngest player to score for the United States as the hosts defeated Chile 4-2 in an international friendly on Tuesday.
Albert, aged 17 years and four months, scored in stoppage time to surpass Christian Pulisic’s record as the youngest goalscorer in US men’s national team history.
Julian Hall, another teenage forward, also scored as the United States continued preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Sebastian Berhalter and Chris Richards were the other scorers for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Chile briefly took control of the match through goals from Diego Ulloa and Maximiliano Gutierrez, but the United States responded strongly in the second half.
Hall Continues Impressive Start
Hall played a key role in the opening goal by allowing Sergino Dest’s pass to reach Berhalter, who finished from inside the penalty area.
Chile equalised shortly before half-time when Ulloa scored following a goalmouth scramble.
The visitors then moved ahead soon after the restart. Gutierrez won an aerial challenge before cutting inside and curling the ball into the bottom corner.
The lead lasted only a short time. Hall levelled the score with a header from Gio Reyna’s cross, becoming the youngest US player to score in each of his first two international appearances.
Pochettino later introduced several more experienced players, including Richards, who headed the United States back in front from Berhalter’s corner.
Albert Sets New Record
Albert sealed the victory deep into stoppage time when his shot struck the crossbar before crossing the goal line.
The goal was confirmed by the referee and gave Albert a place in US football history, moving him ahead of Pulisic as the youngest-ever scorer for the national team.
The match followed a 4-1 win over Peru, in which 11 players made their international debuts.
Pochettino fielded the youngest starting lineup of his two-year tenure, with an average age of 23 years and 25 days.
The match began with a farewell ceremony for Tim Ream, who announced his retirement from international football.
The game ended with a confrontation involving players and members of both coaching staffs, with tempers flaring shortly before the final whistle.
