USA power into World Cup knockout stage with victory over Australia

Group D

USA 2-0 Australia 

The United States took a huge step towards winning their World Cup group as they beat Australia 2-0 with a dominant, high-energy performance in front of a boisterous sellout crowd in Seattle.

The US secured consecutive wins at a World Cup for the first time since 1930, and will be confirmed as group winners if Turkey fail to beat Paraguay later today.

The tournament co-hosts were without talisman Christian Pulisic because of a calf injury, but subjected Australia to severe pressure in the first half which resulted in two goals.

Australia defender Cameron Burgess inadvertently stabbed the ball into his own net in the 11th minute after US striker Folarin Balogun had raced to the byeline and squared across the face of goal.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side doubled their lead minutes before half-time when Alex Freeman reacted quickest to a deflected Sergino Dest strike to nod past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach. The goal was awarded following a video assistant referee (VAR) check after initially being flagged offside.

Balogun scored twice in the US’ 4-1 win against Paraguay on matchday one, and impressed again despite spurning an opportunity early in the second half when played through on goal.

Australia hardly threatened after Mohamed Toure saw a low shot saved 40 seconds into the match, but improved in the second half after the introduction of Nestory Irankunda at the break.

The 20-year-old was a surprise omission from the starting XI after scoring in the 2-0 win against Turkey, and showed his danger when he charged down the wing and squared for Cristian Volpato who fired over.

The intensity of the US’ press understandably eased up as the second half progressed, but Socceroos captain Harry Souttar was unable to convert from a knockdown from a free-kick.

The US will face a third-place finisher in the round of 32 if they finish top of Group D.

Whether the rivalry between the United States and Australia is genuine or just a media fabrication, it was clear that the hosts were fired up from the start in Seattle.

While their opening-game victory against Paraguay was impressive, this was arguably the first time in Pochettino’s tenure the US looked a team entirely in his image.

After twice losing possession in their own third during a nervy opening few minutes, the tournament co-hosts set about relentlessly pressing Australia high up the pitch.

Their early goal put Australia on the backfoot, and means they are the first World Cup hosts since France in 1938 to score in the first fifteen minutes in each of their first two matches of the tournament.

Australia spent much of their win against Turkey without the ball, but in the first half in Seattle they hardly had time to breathe, never mind get on the ball and do something meaningful with it.

Balogun was once again a livewire up front, while midfielders Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman constantly made dangerous runs in between the Australia centre-backs and wing-backs.

The tone for this most all-American of performances was set before kick-off when the 67,000-strong crowd at Seattle Stadium belted out Star Spangled Banner with as much gusto and enthusiasm as you are likely to see this summer.

The US had not played in the state of Washington since 2016, but have now won each of their past eight games played in Seattle – and will return here in the last 16 if they win the group and their last-32 game in Santa Clara.

Judging by the way the crowd and players fed off each other, they will be eager to come back.

The US will face Turkey in their final group match in Los Angeles on Friday, 26 June (03:00 BST), while Australia will meet Paraguay at the same time in Santa Clara.