USMNT defender Alex Freeman scores first Villarreal goal in comeback win

Alex Freeman scored his first goal for Villarreal on Saturday, Oct. 24, heading home in the second half to spark a 2-1 comeback win against Valencia at Mestalla.

Villarreal went down a goal in the first half, but Freeman's header in the 69th minute leveled the match.

The two sides then traded red cards, first Villarreal's Pape Gueye in the 79th minute and then Valencia's Harvey Elliott 10 minutes later. With both sides down to 10 men, Georges Mikautadze found a winner six minutes into stoppage time to seal all three points for the visitors.

The goal continued Freeman's rapid rise for club and country, with the 22-year-old now starting the past five league matches for Villarreal.

Freeman moved to the Yellow Submarine in January after a breakout 2025 campaign with Orlando City in MLS.

The defender has become an ever-present for the U.S. men's national team in the past 18 months, having played in 25 straight matches for Mauricio Pochettino's team. He started four of the USMNT's five World Cup games this summer, scoring against Australia.

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Villarreal coach full of praise for Freeman

In his post-match press conference on Saturday, Villarreal coach Íñigo Pérez had high praise for the 22-year-old American.

"Alex is a super player," Pérez said in Spanish . "He can easily play center back, fullback, left back, further forward, wingback; he's also played on both sides with his national team.

"That versatility and dynamism, combined with his level, give a coach the confidence to play him in any position or ask certain things of him that might surprise him. It allows me to be more courageous.

"As you saw, he's capable of playing with astonishing calmness."

Freeman started at left back at Valencia instead of his typical right-sided defensive spot. Pérez said he trusted Freeman to deal with the pace of Valencia winger David Otorbi.

"Otorbi is very fast, very direct, and Freeman has the ability to contain those types of wingers," Pérez said.