Overview

• Alejandro Zendejas volleyed in Max Arfsten’s cross in the 30th minute and Folarin Balogun finished Christian Pulisic’s through ball in the 64th.
• Goalkeeper Matt Freese secured a clean sheet with six saves, keeping the door open in the ongoing No. 1 shirt debate.
• Mauricio Pochettino deployed a back three of Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Tristan Blackmon with wingbacks Arfsten and Alex Freeman, and paired Tyler Adams with Cristian Roldan in midfield.
• Japan rotated its entire XI from the weekend draw with Mexico, offering context to the result as regulars entered only in the second half.
• Arfsten became the first Columbus Crew player since 2009 to start for the U.S. in Columbus before a pro-American sellout crowd of 20,192, with Ecuador and Australia up next on Oct. 10 and Oct. 14.