The United States Men's National Team secured a spot in the Round of 32, defeating Australia, 2-0, in front of a raucous crowd at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash. With six points atop the table in Group D, they can finish no worse than second. A win by Paraguay over Türkiye later Friday, would guarantee the U.S. wins the group.
News came 90 minutes before the match that Christian Pulisic would not play, still recovering from a calf injury he injured in training, then aggravated in a brilliant first half against Paraguay.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino responded by putting two strikers on the pitch. Though technically a 4-2-3-1, it was in operation a 4-2-2-2, with Ricardo Pepi getting Pulisic's spot in the left midfield. With Pepi playing forward, Pochettino had left back Antonee Robinson in more of a wing-back/midfield role, with Robinson often well forward in the finishing third.
The strategy paid immediate dividends against Australia's traditional 5-4-1 defensive block structure, with outside speed getting behind the Aussie defense and creating chances in front of goal. The U.S. got on the board early with an own-goal forced by a terrific run and cross by Folarin Balogun, who followed up his two-goal group opener with another strong performance. His cross went off Aussie defender Cameron Burgess's leg and into the twine in the 11th minute, but the goal was assured with Pepi and Sergiño Dest free in front of keeper Patrick Beach.
The U.S. possessed at over 70 percent in the first half, continually pressuring the Aussie back line with speed and precision passing. Despite the dominance on the ball, shots on target were difficult, but the possession and team speed nullified any counters and the cycle would start again. They were finally rewarded in the 43rd minute when Robinson took a free kick from near the goal line, made an exceptional pass to Dest at the top of the box, with his rifle shot deflecting of an Aussie defender before Alex Freeman finished with a header from atop the goal box. It was initially ruled offside but was onside after VAR review.
The second half was more physical and Australia boosted possession to create several chances, but the U.S. defended well enough for a clean sheet and closed out the match, just their second clean sheet in their last 12 matches.
The Good:
• Pochettino. The tactical decision to start Pepi for Pulisic, then arrange for the two strikers to work inside the system without risking counters was terrific. I thought he waited too long to sub in the second half, but full marks. He's determined to push the play with this team and he has the speed and skill on the roster to do it. At the very least, the style is attractive to U.S. fans who've witnessed too much defensive/counter tactics pre-Poch.
• It didn't show on the scoresheet, but Dest and Weston McKennie terrorized the right side of the Aussie defense from the midfield, opening up so many opportunities on the other two-thirds of the pitch. The starting front six of Balogun, Pepi, McKennie, Dest, Malik Tillman and Tyler Adams were exceptional.It was always going to be tough against a team so focused on defense, but they were stellar ... at both ends of the pitch.
• The crowd. This was the perfect place for the U.S. to play its second match. Seattle is a soccer town, with intelligent fans who know and appreciate the sport. Great energy supporting the home side.
The Bad:
• The yellow cards — inevitable against a physical side like Australia — might limit some participation in the final group game against Türkiye, and key players hold them: Balogun, Robinson and Chris Richards. All hands will be needed on deck in the Round of 32. Accumulated yellows are wiped out after the group stage, but a red card for a second yellow carries into the elimination rounds. The U.S. have enough up front to get by without Balogun for a game, but they do not have the defensive depth to lose Richards or Robinson, who are also key offensive role players.
• The second half. It wasn't all bad, but Australia got out of its shape to press for goals and the U.S. was unable to take advantage of the space behind. Australia's a dangerous countering team, but the U.S. lost all game flow, unable to take advantage of opportunities to get behind their defense. They worked for the clean sheet and earned it, but some chances ceded would have been trouble against a better team. A bit of a nitpick, but definitely something to work on as advancement's assured with one group game to go.
My take: The beauty of the sport is this was a much better win than the rout of Paraguay, and without arguably their best player. The U.S. needed to show it could muster a clean sheet and that it had the discipline to break down a defensive system, and few are better than the Aussies at that. Check and check.
THE ASYLUM
USA tops Australia, advancing
The United States Men's National Team secured a spot in the Round of 32, defeating Australia, 2-0, in front of a raucous crowd at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash. With six points atop the table in Group D, they can finish no worse than second. A win by Paraguay over Türkiye later Friday, would guarantee the U.S. wins the group.
News came 90 minutes before the match that Christian Pulisic would not play, still recovering from a calf injury he injured in training, then aggravated in a brilliant first half against Paraguay.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino responded by putting two strikers on the pitch. Though technically a 4-2-3-1, it was in operation a 4-2-2-2, with Ricardo Pepi getting Pulisic's spot in the left midfield. With Pepi playing forward, Pochettino had left back Antonee Robinson in more of a wing-back/midfield role, with Robinson often well forward in the finishing third.
The strategy paid immediate dividends against Australia's traditional 5-4-1 defensive block structure, with outside speed getting behind the Aussie defense and creating chances in front of goal. The U.S. got on the board early with an own-goal forced by a terrific run and cross by Folarin Balogun, who followed up his two-goal group opener with another strong performance. His cross went off Aussie defender Cameron Burgess's leg and into the twine in the 11th minute, but the goal was assured with Pepi and Sergiño Dest free in front of keeper Patrick Beach.
The U.S. possessed at over 70 percent in the first half, continually pressuring the Aussie back line with speed and precision passing. Despite the dominance on the ball, shots on target were difficult, but the possession and team speed nullified any counters and the cycle would start again. They were finally rewarded in the 43rd minute when Robinson took a free kick from near the goal line, made an exceptional pass to Dest at the top of the box, with his rifle shot deflecting of an Aussie defender before Alex Freeman finished with a header from atop the goal box. It was initially ruled offside but was onside after VAR review.
The second half was more physical and Australia boosted possession to create several chances, but the U.S. defended well enough for a clean sheet and closed out the match, just their second clean sheet in their last 12 matches.
The Good:
• Pochettino. The tactical decision to start Pepi for Pulisic, then arrange for the two strikers to work inside the system without risking counters was terrific. I thought he waited too long to sub in the second half, but full marks. He's determined to push the play with this team and he has the speed and skill on the roster to do it. At the very least, the style is attractive to U.S. fans who've witnessed too much defensive/counter tactics pre-Poch.
• It didn't show on the scoresheet, but Dest and Weston McKennie terrorized the right side of the Aussie defense from the midfield, opening up so many opportunities on the other two-thirds of the pitch. The starting front six of Balogun, Pepi, McKennie, Dest, Malik Tillman and Tyler Adams were exceptional.It was always going to be tough against a team so focused on defense, but they were stellar ... at both ends of the pitch.
• The crowd. This was the perfect place for the U.S. to play its second match. Seattle is a soccer town, with intelligent fans who know and appreciate the sport. Great energy supporting the home side.
The Bad:
• The yellow cards — inevitable against a physical side like Australia — might limit some participation in the final group game against Türkiye, and key players hold them: Balogun, Robinson and Chris Richards. All hands will be needed on deck in the Round of 32. Accumulated yellows are wiped out after the group stage, but a red card for a second yellow carries into the elimination rounds. The U.S. have enough up front to get by without Balogun for a game, but they do not have the defensive depth to lose Richards or Robinson, who are also key offensive role players.
• The second half. It wasn't all bad, but Australia got out of its shape to press for goals and the U.S. was unable to take advantage of the space behind. Australia's a dangerous countering team, but the U.S. lost all game flow, unable to take advantage of opportunities to get behind their defense. They worked for the clean sheet and earned it, but some chances ceded would have been trouble against a better team. A bit of a nitpick, but definitely something to work on as advancement's assured with one group game to go.
My take: The beauty of the sport is this was a much better win than the rout of Paraguay, and without arguably their best player. The U.S. needed to show it could muster a clean sheet and that it had the discipline to break down a defensive system, and few are better than the Aussies at that. Check and check.
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