USMNT supporters have spent the whole week worrying about Christian Pulisic's calf but, turns out, they didn't need him. On Friday afternoon in Seattle, the United States beat Australia 2-0. Cameron Burgess' early own goal broke the deadlock, with the U.S. becoming the first side in World Cup history to provoke an own goal in both of their first two matches.
The United States are also the first host to score in the first 15 minutes of their first two matches since France in 1938. Well, unlike the blitz against Paraguay, it took until the cusp of half time for the Stars and Stripes to find their second. Alex Freeman's goal was initially ruled out for offside but, after VAR review, referee Felix Zwayer announcing "final decision goal" led the a roar so load that it could be heard all across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Thus, Mauricio Pochettino seems to have landed upon an effective winning formulae. Establish a healthy first half advantage, before limiting your opponents to very little after the interval and seeing out the victory. It has worked against Paraguay and now Australia. So, who next?
United States first and second half statistics vs Paraguay and Australia
Statistics | USA first halves | USA second halves |
|---|---|---|
Goals | 5 | 1 |
Expected goals | 2.05 | 0.68 |
Big chances | 5 | 0 |
Shots | 16 | 10 |
Shots on target | 6 | 2 |
Accurate passes | 552 | 404 |
Final third entries | 80 | 63 |
Note: All statistics courtesy of SofaScore.
Well, unless Türkiye beat Paraguay in today's later fixture in the Bay Area, the U.S. will be guaranteed top spot in Group D with a game to spare. This is not only the second time USA have began a World Cup campaign with back-to-back wins, it is the first time they've won multiple matches in a World Cup group stage since the inaugural edition in 1930.
Next up, the co-hosts will face Türkiye at SoFi on Thursday, but the pressure is very much off, so Pochettino will be able to rest and rotate. There's no need to risk Pulisic, or anyone else carrying a knock. If the U.S. do secure top spot, they will play a third-place team at Levi's Stadium in July 1. The side is most-likely to come out of groups B, J, I, or E, in that order.
Were they to win that, the USA would return to Lumen Field for a round of 16 tie, potentially against Belgium in a rematch of their extra time defeat in Salvador 12 years ago. However, given that the USMNT have now won all seven matches they've ever played in Seattle, there is growing belief that this team could reach a first quarter-final since 2002. If this World Cup is about getting the nation to fall in love with soccer, well this team is playing their part.
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