Co-hosts USA moved closer to the World Cup knockout stages with a 2-0 victory over Australia in Group D.
Having beaten Paraguay 4-1 in their opening game in Los Angeles, Mauricio Pochettino’s side produced another commanding display in Seattle to continue their strong start to the tournament and put them on the brink of reaching the round of 32.
Folarin Balogun, scorer of two goals against Paraguay, forced the opener when Australia defender Cameron Burgess turned the striker’s cut-back into his own net in the 11th minute.
Defender Alex Freeman added the second when VAR overturned an offside call against him after he had nodded Serginio Dest’s deflected shot over the line following a USA corner.
Head coach Tony Popovic tried to get Australia back into the game by making a triple change at half-time but they were unable to meaningfully trouble goalkeeper Matt Freese as USA put themselves in a strong position to advance to the knockouts.
The key moments from Seattle…
11: GOAL! Burgess sends Balogun’s cut-back into his own net for the opener
43: GOAL RULED OUT! The linesman flags Freeman for offside after he heads in
45: GOAL GIVEN! VAR overturns the offside decision and the goal is given
45+7: SAVE! Dest tests Patrick Beech with a low shot
52: WASTE! Balogun spurns a one-on-one chance to add a third
62: OVER! Australia’s Cristian Volpato fires a good chance over after coming off the bench
65: SAVE! Connor Metcalfe, another Australia substitute, shoots too close to Freese
87: AGGRO! Three late bookings as tempers fray
