World Cup: USA win second group game and advance to next round

Second win for hosts

Own goal and VAR luck: USA reach the next round of the World Cup

The USA celebrates their second victory in the second World Cup game. Before that, she had received some bad news.

Host USA can no longer stop celebrating at the home World Cup. After the convincing 4-1 win in the first group game against Paraguay, the USA also followed up against Australia – 2-0 (2-0) was the score on Friday afternoon local time in Seattle. An own goal from Cameron Burgess (11th) and a goal from Alex Freeman (44th) made the victory perfect. This means that entry into the World Cup competition is certain.

And progress is still possible for Australia after the 2-0 coup against Turkey in the first game.

Before the USA’s second goal, there had been discussions about a possible offside position for goalscorer Freeman. But the German VAR referee Bastian Dankert decided on a goal.

Before the game there was bad news for the USA that star players Christian Pulisic fails. The former Dortmund player is “not available” due to his calf problems, but is making “good” progress, emphasized the US national coach Mauricio Pochettino before the game told Fox Sports.

The Americans – otherwise more like that American football or basketball – are gradually warming up to the sport they just call “soccer”. Given the early kick-off time of 12 noon, fans had already gathered in the pubs around the stadium early in the morning and ordered their first beers. When the anthem was played, several helicopters flew over the impressive home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks football club.

On the lawn it only went one way. And the USA benefited – as they did at the start against Paraguay – from an early own goal. This time it was Australia defender Burgess who directed a sharp cross from striker Folarin Balogun into the goal. That star striker Christian Pulisic from the AC Milan was unable to take part in the US game due to a calf injury.

Even with the early lead, nothing changed in terms of the game. The Australians defended, the USA attacked. Again and again it went to the right side and Sergiño Dest, who the Socceroos simply couldn’t cope with. Coach Tony Popovic’s team gave the impression from the start that they wanted to limit the damage before the group final against Paraguay.