Tyler Adams #4 of america is tackled by Mathew Leckie #7 of Australia through the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Australia at Seattle Stadium on June 19, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. — AFP
SEATTLE: The USA superior to the World Cup knockout stage with a dominant efficiency towards Australia on Friday, an early personal objective and an Alex Freeman header giving the co-hosts a snug 2-0 win regardless of lacking talisman Christian Pulisic.
Simply as they’d of their 4-1 victory over Paraguay, the US pressured an personal objective to open the scoring, with Cameron Burgess the unlucky defender.
Freeman nodded within the easiest of headers simply earlier than the break, the objective initially dominated out for offside however given on evaluation, prompting the US bench to flood the pitch in celebration.
“It was surreal … obviously at first it was disallowed so I was kind of anxious when it went to VAR,” Freeman stated. “It was so emotional for me because you dream of this moment.”
Australia coach Tony Popovic dropped each goalscorers, Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, from the Socceroos’ 2-0 win over Turkey and introduced them on at halftime to attempt to flip the tide.
Australia improved however hardly ever appeared like getting again into the match in a second half which grew to become more and more fractious and lacked high quality.
“I don’t know if it was the occasion, but we looked sluggish, heavy-legged,” Popovic stated. “I think the players showed how good they are in the second half, but obviously at this level you can’t give away that much in the first.”
The US moved on to 6 factors and into the final 32 earlier than their final sport towards Turkey on Thursday in Los Angeles, when coach Mauricio Pochettino hopes to have Pulisic out there.
“But if we want to win the competition, we need the whole team. And all the players need to be important,” he stated.
The US will high Group D if Turkey don’t beat Paraguay in a while Friday. Australia stay second on three factors and subsequent face Paraguay in San Francisco.
US into final 32 with sport to spare
The US began barely nervously in entrance of a raucous full home however rapidly settled into the match, with Weston McKennie significantly influential, and took a well-earned lead within the eleventh minute.
Folarin Balogun tore down the left flank and performed the ball in direction of Ricardo Pepi, changing Pulisic, and the protecting Burgess despatched the ball into his personal web.
Australia struggled to get out of their very own half because the US maintained management, with Australia’s greatest second of the primary half coming simply earlier than the hydration break, when Freeman blocked Mathew Leckie’s threatening cross.
The US lastly acquired the second objective their dominance deserved within the forty third minute: a free kick was performed to Sergino Dest on the sting of the realm and his shot was blocked, however looped into the air with goalkeeper Patrick Seaside on the ground to provide Freeman a straightforward end.
Freeman stated securing the win with out Pulisic confirmed the depth the US may rely on.
“It says that we have a really strong roster and it says that whichever players we’re going to put on the field we’re going to execute and be 100% and get a result,” Freeman stated. “Christian is such a vital part of this team, but if he’s not available someone else is going to have to step in.”
The second half was low on incident, with the US content material to guard their lead and preserve vitality, although Australia’s Harry Souttar missed a golden alternative with 5 minutes left which may have arrange a tense finale.
“We had opportunities to score, we had chances,” Souttar stated. “I could say a lot of things I don’t want to say just because it’s so raw.”
