.png)
7 hours ago
2
USA captain Christian Pulisic was forced off early with a lower leg complaint as the World Cup cohosts scrapped to a 2-1 win over Australia at Dick’s Sporting Goods Stadium in Colorado on Wednesday.
A first-half double from striker Haji Wright cancelled out a shock opening goal from Socceroos left-back Jordy Bos, handing Tony Popovic his first loss and denying Australia the chance to climb the Fifa rankings and potentially face an easier group at next year’s tournament.
Pulisic, who had returned to the starting lineup after an ankle niggle kept him to a substitute appearance against Ecuador over the weekend, walked gingerly off the pitch in the 27th minute after a handful of heavy challenges from the physical Socceroos, who had clearly been told to pressure the AC Milan star.
Building on their recently improved performances, the USA started the game with majority of possession and territory, moving Australia’s well drilled unit around the field. And yet, it was the visiting side that struck first.
Rising star Bos, who was recently awarded player of the month in the Dutch Eredivisie, justified his starting spot in the 19th minute after his own throw-in near the USA box was shanked clear, allowing the Feyenoord defender to charge through three scrambling white shirts before rifling a half volley into the far corner.
It was the only bright attacking spark for Australia in the opening half as the USA, like Canada on Saturday, controlled most of the ball and created the more convincing chances as under-pressure manager Mauricio Pochettino continues to prepare his young squad for next year’s tournament.
Pulisic was the primary outlet for the hosts’ attack, and almost orchestrated an equaliser on the following play, charging into Australia’s box down the centre-left channel before his cut-back was hoofed away.
But the captain’s influence was cut short when a yellow-card challenge from Socceroos defender Jason Geria saw him tumble into the grass clutching his lower leg, forcing Pochettino to substitute his star player prematurely.
His replacement, Diego Luna, provided the spark the USA needed to claw a goal back minutes later. As he occupied Australia’s central players, a slicing through-ball from midfielder Cristian Roldan found striker Haji Wright, who poked the ball into the top corner to make it 1-1.
The hosts grew in confidence and control from there, pressing further into Australia’s final third and finding more pockets around the box. Wright and Rodan had efforts sail over the crossbar as the half drew to a close, but not before tensions flared after James Sands was repeatedly crashed into by some frustrated Socceroos.
Nick D’Agostino, who had spent the half chasing shadows, lunged into a challenge, while Aiden O’Neill’s slide tackle left Sands sprawling, resulting in a scuffle between the two teams around the centre referee, who ended the half early to calm things down.
after newsletter promotion
Australia started the second half brightly, with Bos once again jinking his way down the left wing before cutting back for O’Neill, who lingered too long on his shot that ultimately crashed off a white shirt. A rare free kick for Australia just outside the area ricocheted off the hosts’ defensive wall, while some dallying from USA keeper Matt Freese was almost punished by the lightning D’Agostino.
But the Socceroos’ momentum ground to a halt minutes later after a quick USA free kick sailed over the whole field and into the stride of Wright, who cut neatly inside the scrambling Cam Burgess and curled an effort past Mat Ryan.
Popovic, sticking to his pre-game commitment to rotate his players, made a quadruple change on the hour to freshen up Australia’s attack, bringing on Mo Toure and Nestory Irankundo for D’Agostino and Martin Boyle.
But it was Bos who continued to shine, barrelling down the channels on the left and right, trying to force his own luck. It almost came off in the 75th minute before the ball got stuck under his own feet, while at the other end, Ryan made a fine rushing save to deny a one-on-one with Luna, who’d ghosted through Australia’s backline.
A heavy aerial collision between Bos and Alex Freeman in the 80th minute, followed by an incident involving Balogun off the ball, took the wind out of the game. But Irankunda needed one more chance, making a charging final run to try to find an equaliser, only for his tame shot to be scooped up by Freese.
The USA managed out the rest of the match to secure their first win in some time, handing Popovic his first loss as Socceroos boss and denying Australia the opportunity to potentially land an easier group at next year’s World Cup.
