Haji Wright Scores Twice As Usa Come Back From A Goal Down To See Off Australia

USA skipper Christian Pulisic was forced disconnected early pinch a little limb title arsenic nan World Cup cohosts scrapped to a 2-1 triumph complete Australia astatine Dick’s Sporting Goods Stadium successful Colorado connected Wednesday.

A first-half double from striker Haji Wright cancelled retired a daze opening extremity from Socceroos left-back Jordy Bos, handing Tony Popovic his first nonaccomplishment and denying Australia nan chance to climb nan Fifa rankings and perchance look an easier group astatine adjacent year’s tournament.

Pulisic, who had returned to nan starting lineup aft an ankle niggle kept him to a substitute quality against Ecuador complete nan weekend, walked gingerly disconnected nan transportation successful nan 27th infinitesimal aft a fistful of dense challenges from nan beingness Socceroos, who had intelligibly been told to unit nan AC Milan star.

Building connected their precocious improved performances, nan USA started nan crippled pinch mostly of possession and territory, moving Australia’s good drilled portion astir nan field. And yet, it was nan visiting broadside that struck first.

Rising prima Bos, who was precocious awarded subordinate of nan period successful nan Dutch Eredivisie, justified his starting spot successful nan 19th infinitesimal aft his ain throw-in adjacent nan USA container was shanked clear, allowing nan Feyenoord defender to complaint done 3 scrambling achromatic shirts earlier rifling a half volley into nan acold corner.

It was nan only agleam attacking spark for Australia successful nan opening half arsenic nan USA, for illustration Canada connected Saturday, controlled astir of nan shot and created nan much convincing chances arsenic under-pressure head Mauricio Pochettino continues to hole his young squad for adjacent year’s tournament.

Pulisic was nan superior outlet for nan hosts’ attack, and almost orchestrated an equaliser connected nan pursuing play, charging into Australia’s container down nan centre-left transmission earlier his cut-back was hoofed away.

But nan captain’s power was trim short erstwhile a yellow-card situation from Socceroos defender Jason Geria saw him tumble into nan writer clutching his little leg, forcing Pochettino to substitute his prima subordinate prematurely.

His replacement, Diego Luna, provided nan spark nan USA needed to claw a extremity backmost minutes later. As he occupied Australia’s cardinal players, a slicing through-ball from midfielder Cristian Roldan recovered striker Haji Wright, who poked nan shot into nan apical area to make it 1-1.

The hosts grew successful assurance and power from there, pressing further into Australia’s last 3rd and uncovering much pockets astir nan box. Wright and Rodan had efforts sail complete nan crossbar arsenic nan half drew to a close, but not earlier tensions flared aft James Sands was many times collapsed into by immoderate disappointment Socceroos.

Referee Kwinsi Williams separates Cameron Burgess and Chris Richards arsenic things get heated successful nan first half. Photograph: Andrew Wevers/USSF/Getty Images

Nick D’Agostino, who had spent nan half chasing shadows, lunged into a challenge, while Aiden O’Neill’s descent tackle near Sands sprawling, resulting successful a scuffle betwixt nan 2 teams astir nan centre referee, who ended nan half early to calm things down.

Australia started nan 2nd half brightly, pinch Bos erstwhile again jinking his measurement down nan near helping earlier cutting backmost for O’Neill, who lingered excessively agelong connected his changeable that yet collapsed disconnected a achromatic shirt. A uncommon free footwear for Australia conscionable extracurricular nan area ricocheted disconnected nan hosts’ protect wall, while immoderate dallying from USA keeper Matt Freese was almost punished by nan lightning D’Agostino.

But nan Socceroos’ momentum crushed to a halt minutes later aft a speedy USA free footwear sailed complete nan full section and into nan stride of Wright, who trim neatly wrong nan scrambling Cam Burgess and coiled an effort past Mat Ryan.

Popovic, sticking to his pre-game committedness to rotate his players, made a quadruple alteration connected nan hr to freshen up Australia’s attack, bringing connected Mo Toure and Nestory Irankundo for D’Agostino and Martin Boyle.

But it was Bos who continued to shine, barrelling down nan channels connected nan near and right, trying to unit his ain luck. It almost came disconnected successful nan 75th infinitesimal earlier nan shot sewage stuck nether his ain feet, while astatine nan different end, Ryan made a good rushing prevention to contradict a one-on-one pinch Luna, who’d ghosted done Australia’s backline.

A dense aerial collision betwixt Bos and Alex Freeman successful nan 80th minute, followed by an incident involving Balogun disconnected nan ball, took nan upwind retired of nan game. But Irankunda needed 1 much chance, making a charging last tally to effort to find an equaliser, only for his tame changeable to beryllium scooped up by Freese.

The USA managed retired nan remainder of nan lucifer to unafraid their first triumph successful immoderate time, handing Popovic his first nonaccomplishment arsenic Socceroos leader and denying Australia nan opportunity to perchance onshore an easier group astatine adjacent year’s World Cup.