Whatever the result, soccer was always going to win. But on a hot and bright Friday afternoon in the pacific north-west, the word had an American accent.
The United States’ 2-0 World Cup win over Australia was a rare meeting between sides that could agree not just on terminology, but on the weighty significance of a good result. Both seemingly play every men’s World Cup with the weight of the future of the sport on their shoulders, both facing intense competition from other sports for the country’s hearts and minds.
The significance of this match was never going to be in question, though. Not at the World Cup, and certainly not in a group as balanced as Group D, with both teams enjoying positive momentum from World Cup-opening wins.
For the US, that momentum now continues. As John Denver’s Country Roads blared over the Seattle Stadium PA, they celebrated history: a spot in the knockout round secured with a game to spare, two wins to start a World Cup for the first time since 1930, a big moment for a breakout star in goalscorer Alex Freeman, and the continuation of a journey that US Soccer hope will be transformative for the sport in their country.
“We built the victory in our attitude,” Mauricio Pochettino said. “Today, even if I am not American, after the game I was emotional … To connect with the people is what we wanted.”
By contrast, Australia’s forward progress has now been blunted. The defensive resolve and surgical counterattack that powered their 2-0 win against Turkey was undone by an early own goal, the second time in as many games the US have benefited from that sort of advantage. A subpar first half could not be saved by a far more competitive second stanza, with the manager Tony Popovic electing to leave Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, the two goalscorers last time, on the bench.
Speculation about Christian Pulisic’s status dominated the leadup up to the match, and shortly beforehand Pochettino confirmed that he was not available for selection. Still Popovic insisted that “there were not surprises in what they did … We didn’t match that. We were slow to every ball, and we couldn’t wrestle back any momentum.”
Australia fans, almost uniformly resplendent in yellow, were audible throughout in their three large pockets of support centered around Seattle Stadium’s south end. But ultimately this was a raucous and partisan crowd in one of the capitals of the sport in the United States.
The Americans took control of the game within short order, probing Australia though channels on either side. That was how the breakthrough came, with Antonee Robinson playing forward to Folarin Balogun, shifted out wide to where Pulisic might otherwise have been. Beating Jacob Italiano for pace, Balogun fired a low service into the penalty area that Cameron Burgess knew little about, and could only deflect into his own net.
Australia had a chance to reply just two minutes later, with Mohamed Touré holding up the ball against a tight US backline, as Mathew Leckie attempted an audacious outside of the boot effort from the top of the box around Richards, which went high and wide.
The physical battles that both teams said would be a hallmark of this matchup began to crop up at this point. Jordan Bos was issued the game’s first yellow card for a hand to the face of Weston McKennie shortly thereafter, with Alessandro Circati picking up another later on for clipping Malik Tillman’s heel. By the end, seven yellow cards were issued – a tournament high. “I didn’t think it was physical, really,” Popovic said. “I thought it was as you’d expect.”
The genesis of the US’s second came from Tillman, who battled Nishan Velupillay to keep the ball along the Australia byline, eventually earning a dangerous free-kick. Robinson played it to the top of the box to Sergiño Dest, whose shot was deflected by a flying Harry Souttar.
Freeman was first to the rebound, bundling it into the back of the net in a goal that was initially checked for offside, then allowed. Freeman, by then back in his customary center-back position, ended up celebrating at the opposite end that the goal occurred, surrounded by his teammates onrushing from the bench.
“The evolution is massive,” Pochettino said of the 21-year-old Freeman. “He has potential to be one of the best players in his position in the world.”
Popovic responded to that lackluster first half with a raft of attacking substitutions bringing on the two goalscorers from the Socceroos last game. The attacking approach brought its own risks, with a Balogun breakaway just after the half eventually blocked. It also brought rewards, with Australia looking for more comfortable on the front foot.
Popovic made another change just after the hour mark, with Cristian Volpato replacing Leckie. The Sassuolo man had a key moment almost immediately, firing over the bar after a surging run from Irankunda down the right flank. Metcalfe had another attempt minutes later smothered by Matt Freese with little difficulty.
Physical challenges threatened to boil over as the crowd chanted “USA,” willing the match to conclusion. The final whistle was delayed only slightly by an odd injury to referee Felix Zwayer, who later finished out the game. Sensing the environment flagging, Balogun waved his arms to pump up the crowd. The party started not long after.
