SEATTLE — When star forward Christian Pulisic was ruled out of Friday’s must-win World Cup group stage match against Australia with a calf injury, many expected the United States men’s national team to stumble. But in a display of squad depth that signals how far the program has come, the Americans picked up a dominant 2-0 win, clinched their spot in the expanded 48-team tournament’s knockout round, and secured first place in Group D.
The victory marked the Americans’ second consecutive win in group play, a first for the US program at a men’s World Cup since 1930. Later the same day in Santa Clara, California, Paraguay’s 1-0 win over Turkey locked in the US’s position atop the four-team group. Pulisic, the AC Milan forward who has notched 33 goals across 87 senior international caps, was sidelined by the soft tissue injury, a blow that would have derailed past US World Cup sides.
But this year’s squad is built for depth, and rising stars stepped up to fill the gap left by Pulisic’s absence. Folarin Balogun, who bagged a brace in the team’s opening 4-1 win over Paraguay on June 12, highlighted the team’s collective strength after the final whistle.
“C.P. is a fantastic player — the quality and the leadership that he gives us,” Balogun 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.”
The US got off to a flying start in the 11th minute, when Balogun made a threatening run down the left flank and played a cross toward Ricardo Pepi, who got the starting nod in place of Pulisic. The ball never reached the striker, instead deflecting off Australia defender Cameron Burgess and sliding into the back of the net for an own goal that put the US ahead early.
“I want to be dangerous, I want to create opportunities,” Balogun said of the play. “It might not always be myself that scores, but if I can force an error that gives us the lead, then for me it’s like a goal as well. It was a special start to the game to give us the momentum.”
The Americans doubled their lead in the 43rd minute from a set piece, when 21-year-old Alex Freeman — the youngest player on the squad, and son of former NFL Super Bowl champion wide receiver Antonio Freeman — nodded home a deflected shot from Sergiño Dest to score his first career World Cup goal. The goal was confirmed after a lengthy video assistant referee review.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino praised the young winger’s rapid development and professional attitude after the match. “(He) is doing a fantastic job,” Pochettino said. “The evolution is massive. He’s so humble. He wants to learn. He always listens. He’s a player that you really enjoy being with him. Not only coaching, but being with him.”
The US failed to add to their lead in the second half, but their dominant first-half performance left a lasting impression on Australia head coach Tony Popovic, who said the result was no surprise given the Americans’ clear quality.
“It did not surprise us because their quality is clear,” Popovic said. “Their power is clear. Their athleticism is clear. They are not surprising in what they did.”
Heading into the knockout round, the US will face a third-place group finisher in their round of 32 match on July 1 in Santa Clara. With six goals through two group games — just one goal short of the program’s all-time record for a single World Cup — the team’s momentum is building, and expectations for a deep run are growing. But Pochettino said the strong start has not changed his outlook on what his squad can achieve.
“I think it’s much better when you show good performances and win the games,” Pochettino said. “I think that makes it easier, everything. But, at the same time, it’s (important) to keep believing.”
For Freeman, the team’s ability to overcome Pulisic’s absence is proof that the roster has the talent and depth to compete with any side in the tournament. “We know how vital Christian is to the team and how much he can contribute in the game,” Freeman said. “For us it was, we have Ricardo Pepi, who came in and had an amazing game. I think that just shows how (good) our roster is.”