Pulisic misses, U.S. routs Australia 2-0

Christian Pulisic sat out with a calf injury as the United States beat Australia 2-0 on Friday, then secured Group D after Paraguay defeated Turkey 1-0 early Saturday. The U.S. advances to the round of 32 on July 1 in Santa Clara, Calif.

SEATTLE — Christian Pulisic didn’t take the field, and for a moment it looked like the United States might have to carry the weight of its own spotlight.

Instead, the Americans carried their own message. Playing without their injured star forward, the U.S. beat Australia 2-0 on Friday for their second straight victory in the expanded 48-team World Cup. With Group D already in play, the night’s football quickly turned into something sturdier: the U.S. finished first when Paraguay defeated Turkey 1-0 early Saturday.

Folarin Balogun. who scored two goals in the U.S.’s 4-1 win over Paraguay on June 12. framed what followed in the simplest terms. “C.P. is a fantastic player — the quality and the leadership that he gives us,” he 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 consequence is clear now. As Group D winners, the United States will play a round-of-32 match on July 1 in Santa Clara, Calif., against a third-place group finisher.

Pulisic missed Friday’s match because of a calf injury. He plays for AC Milan and has 33 goals in 87 international appearances.

For the U.S., the story isn’t only that it survived the absence of a player of Pulisic’s profile. It’s that the team found a way to look like itself — sharp, connected, and confident — in a tournament that has never been forgiving to sides trying to reinvent themselves.

The Americans also extended a milestone that mattered in the long run. The U.S. won consecutive games at a World Cup for the first time since 1930. The sweep didn’t come from one moment or one man either: the U.S. has scored six goals so far. one off their record for a World Cup. and has received contributions throughout their roster.

Against Australia, the control arrived early. The U.S. took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute after Balogun carried play down the left sideline. He directed a centering pass toward striker Ricardo Pepi, who started in place of Pulisic. The ball never reached Pepi; it deflected off Australia defender Cameron Burgess and into the Socceroos’ net for an own-goal.

Balogun described the mindset behind the attack. “I want to be dangerous, I want to create opportunities,” he said. “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.”.

Then came the second strike, the one that turned dominance into control. In the 43rd minute, Alex Freeman made it 2-0 from a set piece. Freeman headed in a deflected shot by Sergiño Dest for his first career World Cup goal. The finish was confirmed after a video review.

Freeman’s name has become part of the U.S. conversation because he’s 21 — the youngest player on the team — and because he comes from an NFL lineage. He is the son of former NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman.

The coaching staff clearly sees more than a highlight. Coach Mauricio Pochettino said of Freeman: “(He) is doing a fantastic job.” He added, “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.”.

After halftime, the Americans didn’t add to the score, but they didn’t lose the rhythm either. In the opening 45 minutes, they thoroughly dominated Australia, leaving their opponents with no easy explanations.

Australia coach Tony Popovic said the display didn’t catch his side off guard. “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.”

The U.S. head coach’s message stayed consistent: performance first, belief maintained. Pochettino said, “I think it’s much better when you show good performances and win the games.” He added, “I think that makes it easier, everything. But, at the same time, it’s (important) to keep believing.”

There was also a practical lesson for the tournament ahead: the U.S. learned it can get out of the group stage without Pulisic — and it still has the roster to push deeper. Freeman pointed to the way the lineup adjusted. “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.”.

So the U.S. moves forward with the kind of momentum that makes the knockout round feel closer than the calendar suggests. And this time, even a missing Pulisic couldn’t shake the foundation.

United States Australia Christian Pulisic calf injury World Cup Group D Paraguay Turkey Folarin Balogun Alex Freeman Sergiño Dest Cameron Burgess Ricardo Pepi Mauricio Pochettino Tony Popovic