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≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡
Four matches on Friday, but U.S. fans were focused on the opener in Seattle and some history for the American team.
● Group D: United States 2, Australia 0 ● Lumen Field in Seattle was loud for the U.S. and got an early reason to cheer with strong American pressure on goal, even without injured midfielder Christian Pulisic.
In the 11th, striker Folarin Balogun drove down the left side of the field and sent a dangerous cross into the box, aiming for an onrushing striker Ricardo Pepi. But defender Cameron Burgess intercepted the ball, which flew off his foot into the net for an own goal and a 1-0 lead!
The Australians were hardly impressed and pushed their own attack forward, but were not able to score by the hydration break. The Americans had 63% possession in the “first quarter” and a 5-2 shots edge.
The U.S. kept pushing against a packed-in Australian defense, and late in the half, defender Sergino Dest sent a lined shot from above the box which was blocked and flew up into the air. It moved toward the Australian goal and defender Alex Freeman headed it in around keeper Patrick Beach for a 2-0 lead in the 43rd. The goal was initially disallowed for offsides, but a video review confirmed the score.
Dest got another shot from the top of the box that Beach stopped at 45+5 as the half ended. The domination was complete: 70% possession and 9-2 on shots.
Australia was looking for goals, but the U.S. remained with most of possession, but neither had exceptional scoring chances. A U.S. turnover turned into a shot for the Socceroos in the 65th for midfielder Connor Metcalfe from the top of the box that was saved by U.S. keeper Matt Freese. American possession was down to 68% possession at the hydro break, but up 10-4 on shots.
The Aussies were all over the U.S. zone in the 82nd for several minutes, got a good shot at goal in the 85th that was blocked and a rebound that was deflected before a goal kick was declared. It got physical in the 88th with pushing and shoving in the midfield – and some yellow cards – in a choppy second half. What looked like a breakaway chance for Balogun at 90+3 was missed on an errant pass by midfielder Malik Tillman. That was followed by referee Felix Zwayer (GER) falling to the turf for a cramp, but he returned quickly.
It ended 2-0 and the U.S. clinched a spot in the playoffs, with 62% possession and a 10-5 shots edge. It’s the first time since 1930 that the U.S. has won two World Cup games in a row. It was also the first U.S. shutout after giving up a goal for the last nine games in a row.
At 2-0, the U.S. has beaten two teams it defeated in friendlies in 2025. The last U.S. group game is against Turkey – which beat the U.S., 2-1, in a friendly in June 2025 – on Thursday, in Inglewood, California.
● Group D: Turkey vs. Paraguay ● Starts 9 p.m. Pacific time in Santa Clara, California.
● Group C: Scotland vs. Morocco ● Starts 3 p.m. Pacific time in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
● Group C: Brazil vs. Haiti ● Starts 6 p.m. Pacific time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Game reports will be added to this post at the conclusion of each match.
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