The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) followed up an impressive win against Paraguay in their World Cup opener with a 2-0 shutout of Australia Friday afternoon in Seattle.
The U.S. are currently at the top of Group D with six points through two games and have already secured their place in the knockout rounds.
Coming into the game, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino knew he would be without Christian Pulisic, who suffered a calf injury in the World Cup opener. In response, Pochettino made an adjustment and used a 3-5-2 formation instead of the 4-2-3-1 they used vs Paraguay.
The U.S. did not create as many chances or score as many goals as they did vs Paraguay but they played a sound game defensively and benefitted from luck and good old hustle in the attacking third instead of trying to dazzle the near sold-out crowd that came to see the game at Lumen Field.
The luck was on the U.S.’ side when Australia committed an own goal in the 11th minute. Aussie defender Cam Burgess accidentally kicked a pass from U.S. forward Folarin Balogun into his own net.
In the 22nd minute, Australia generated its first chance when Matthew Leckie sent a low cross into the 18-yard box for Nishan Velupillay, but U.S. right-back Alex Freeman slid in front of Velupillay and knocked the ball beyond the end-line.
Near the end of the first half, Freeman collided with Australia’s Paul Okon-Engstler and each had to be treated by their team’s medical staff.
In the 43rd minute, the U.S. had a corner kick, and the American player who took it, passed to Sergino Dest who was on the edge of the Australian 18. Dest would then rip a shot that was blocked. However, the ball popped up in the air inside the six-yard box. Freeman beat an opponent to the ball and headed it into the net for his first World Cup goal. The play would be reviewed by VAR for offsides, but the goal stood.
Down the stretch, the Aussies began to stress the U.S. backline and earned back-to-back corners. The second corner was cleared but fell to an Australian player who kicked the ball first-time but well over the bar.
In the 79th minute Australia’s manager Tony Popovic replaced midfielder Okon-Engstler with Jackson Irvine. In the 80th minute, Pochettino made two substitutions putting Auston Trusty in for Antonee Robinson and Dest with Joe Scally.
Following these substitutions Australia would produce their best chance of the afternoon. Jordan Bos made a pass into the 18 that found Jason Geria, who ripped a shot that was blocked by U.S. midfielder and former New York Red Bull Tyler Adams.
In the 88th minute, Australian center back Harry Souttar and Balogun went up to head a ball in the air. As Souttar and Balogun landed back on their feet, Balogun put his arm around Souttar’s neck. Souttar responded by doing the same. While those two caught the attention of the referee, Felix Zwayer, Australia’s Jacob Italiano shoved Trusty to the ground, but Zwayer didn’t see it happen. However, Souttar, Balogun and Italiano were all shown yellow cards.
The U.S. maintained control of Australia during six minutes of stoppage time, but Chris Richards did commit a foul that was penalized with a yellow card.
After beating Turkiye 2-0 in their opening match, Australia was shutout themselves by an organized and tenacious U.S. team.
Part of the reason Australia couldn’t produce much offensively was that 71 percent of their passes were accurate. On the other hand, the U.S. made 85 percent of their passes. Shots on goal were even at two for each side, but the Americans held 62 percent of possession, while the Aussies held only 38 percent.
One Small Step from World Cup History
Pochettino’s USMNT have now won their opening two games at a World Cup for the second time in their history. At the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay, the USMNT won their opening two games and reached the semi-finals, but at that tournament only 13 teams participated and only two group stage matches were played.
Winning their final group stage match against Turkiye, would give the USMNT nine points and see them top their group for the first time since 2010 and the third time in team history.
The U.S. has never won all three group stage matches in any of the 12 World Cups they have participated in but they can do just that against a talented Turkiye side. Kickoff for the USMNT’s final Group D match is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET on June 25 in Los Angeles, California.
