The U.S. men’s national team moved into the knockout round of the World Cup after defeating Australia 2-0 on Friday in Seattle. The Americans secured the berth after just two matches, a first in their history at this stage of the tournament.
The U.S. team achieved the feat without Christian Pulisic, who missed the match due to a calf injury. Pulisic, who plays for AC Milan and has 33 goals in 87 international appearances, was a key player for the team, but his absence did not prevent the U.S. from earning the victory, according to teammate Folarin Balogun.
Balogun, who scored twice in a 4-1 win over Paraguay earlier this month, praised the team’s resilience. “C.P. is a fantastic player — the quality and the leadership that he gives us,” he said. “We didn’t have him today, but I think you saw we’re still capable to go out there and get a result and put up a performance.”
Alex Freeman, the youngest player on the team at 21 and son of Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman, scored the second goal in the 43rd minute. He headed in a deflected shot by Sergiño Dest after a video review confirmed the goal. Freeman’s tally gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead before halftime.
The Americans opened the scoring early, with Balogun running down the left side and crossing to Ricardo Pepi. The ball deflected off Australian defender Cameron Burgess into the net for an own goal in the 11th minute. Balogun expressed satisfaction with his team’s start, saying it helped set the tone for the match.
The U.S. now advances to the knockout stage, where they will face an opponent to be determined. The team’s deep roster and resilient performance have positioned them well moving forward in the tournament.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
