The U.S. men’s national team started slow but finished strong on Tuesday night in Commerce City.
Haji Wright’s brace helped Mauricio Pochettino’s squad rally to defeat visiting Australia 2-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. It marked the Americans’ first comeback regulation/extra time victory since the 2024 CONCACAF Nations League semifinal round.
It was a disappointing start for the hosts as Australia struck first in the 19th minute with its first shot on target.
James Sands’ defensive clearance flew up in the air and the rest of the USMNT backline was a step behind as Jordan Bos pounced on the loose ball. The Feyenoord fullback delivered a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner for a 1-0 lead.
It marked Bos’ second international goal in his 20th cap.
Pochettino was forced into an early substitution in the 30th minute mark as star attacker Christian Pulisic was substituted off. Pulisic was the victim of a heavy challenge from Australia defender Jason Geria and seemed to be in discomfort following the tackle.
However, the USMNT answered back in quick fashion as Wright delivered his sixth international goal in the 33rd minute. Chris Richards won possession at midfield before Weston McKennie and Cristian Roldan led the counter attack upfield.
Roldan’s through-ball pass allowed Wright to get in the box and rifle home for a 1-1 equalizer.
Wright’s productive night continued with the in-form forward doubling his tally and the USMNT’s lead six minutes into the second half. Roldan’s quick restart led to an over-the-top pass for Wright to race onto before the 27-year-old cut onto his left foot and drilled a shot into the left corner.
It marked Wright’s second international brace of his career.
Despite added pressure from Australia in the second half, the USMNT bunkered down and held on for their ninth win of the calendar year. Brenden Aaronson, Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, Aidan Morris, and Max Arfsten all featured off of the bench.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese made two saves, including a key stop in the 90th minute to help preserve the Top-25 victory.
The USMNT will return to action this November against CONMEBOL sides Paraguay and Uruguay respectively.
I liked watching the Universo feed as the Hispanic commentators are usually more insightful, more experienced, and have more background, and cultural depth when describing some of the key players. God bless my parents for deliberately raising me as a dual-native bilingual. Some of it even trickled down to the feet, for a while. Still, I am USMNT all the way.
Luis Omar Tapia, and Diego Balado were calling this one.
Especially in the first half, both were rather upset with the refereeing. When Sands was clattered into from behind with that vicious scissor tackle that hyperextended his ankle, Tapia was incredulous that the ref did not even stop the game with a whistle and allowed play to continue. “Ehhhh, arbitro!! Pero como es que no para el juego?!”
And then a few minutes later, again, Sands got totalled from behind, and no foul called.
It was clear that the ref was losing respect and letting the game get out of hand.
Truth be told he let the US also deal out some chopped wood, every now and then.
But, in the first half it really seemed to me that the referee, (from Trinidad and Tobago) was favoring the Socceroos.
The point I am trying to make is that I think it is harder as a player, and collectively as a team, when you are getting absolutely mugged, suffering through assault and battery from the opposition and the ref is NOT PROTECTING YOU or your teammates, and ignoring the rules of the game. It is difficult to not lose your cool, and then start looking over your shoulder, start hurrying your passes, to be shakier on your traps, and to start mishitting your one touch passes, etc. Australia is known to be a physically punishing side, they boss the field through intimidation and sheer physical pain meted out on their opponents. In friendlies, refs are generally more lenient, and the Aussies took full advantage time and time again. So, I thought: a) some of the USA’s sloppiness in the 2nd half could be chalked up to the the feeling that the ref was not going to be looking out for them, and b) that first vicious tackle from behind on Sands – in a World Cup, opening matches of the group stage – that would have potentially been a straight red. I think that is part of what Richards was animatedly communicating to the ref when nearly the entire US team surrounded him and said, wuuhhht?! Are you kidding me?
As far as the rest of it – if C. Roldan had bagged either of those sweet benders that just missed the upper corner he is MOM.
Diego Luna got robbed on the cheeky nutmeg feed form Aronson in the box. And by the way, Aronson looked way more composed, fluid, dynamic, solid and EXPERIENCED in his role as a sub. He is a work in progress but I see the improvement already. Good things, good things.
Haji Wright proved he belongs here with the big boys. Took his chances like a cold blooded assassin, like a pro, confidently. Poetry in motion.
And that 19 y/o from Australia, Irakunda. Wow! He almost smoked half the USMNT on that freight-train run, Kevin DeBruyne / Ruud von Nistleroy-esque drive down the L side of the box. Momma! And what I loved about him, as well as his tidiness on the ball, and his elusive silky dribbling, is that Luis Omar “el panda” Tapia and Diego Balado had the backstory on him. Family from Borneo and Burundi, refugees in Tanzania, and then accepted as asylum seekers in Australia, when he was only 3 months old, etc. Ahhhh, the beautiful game!
That’s all I got.
Im going to respond to the comment that: “in the first half it really seemed to me that the referee, (from Trinidad and Tobago) was favoring the Socceroos.”
A FIFA ref is not going to favor one team over another in a friendly. However, the ref, particularly a new-ish CONCACAF ref is not going to dish out cards in a friendly. Australia was playing physically – overly physically. When the ref didn’t card them, it simply gave them the right to do it again.
This is a CONCACAF issue and one we have had for a long time. Pulisic gets no protection from CONCACAF refs. I bet this is one reason he skipped out on the Gold Cup. Richards finally realized the ref wasn’t going to do anything, and basically told the ref “if you aren’t; I am”. He then proceeded to chop down a couple Australian players a few minutes later. Not a lot, but a little message.
Australia did not impress me. They looked at the level of a physical CONCACAF team – like a Panama or Jamaica. Even late in the game, there was a terrible collision involving Freeman caused by an Australian player. In a real World Cup game – that was a red. In this game, its a slow whistle foul because both players stayed down.
The ref was not prepared to deal with the physical play of the Australians in the friendly and the game suffered.
Good stuff. Thanks for that.
Since the game against Japan, it appears the team is starting to show improving signs of implementing Poch’s desired formations and tactics, and beginning to gel into a cohesive unit. Over the last two windows, we’re starting to see which players are adept at being a part of his planned system. The shifting of players during transition and quickness of ball movement has become noticeable, resulting in better overall possession.
– CCV interestingly got no playing time this window. Right now, the pool of CBs looks to be 4. I’m not sure who’s left that can make a case for inclusion.
– Freeman and Arfsten have both made a strong case for inclusion out wide. Call me surprised at how well they’ve done thus far.
– Here’s hoping Cardoso and Musah get their chance in MF. Tessman, Morris and Roldan have impressed, but those two, if given the opportunity, offer strong competition.
– Had hoped Sands would impress, as he is one of the only players in the pool with extensive experience at both CB and MF, and noticed he shifted to CB temporarily a few times in the Australia match from his MF role. But he did lot look ready for the speed of play at this level.
– Agyemang is still viewed as a raw talent who needs more playing time in England, and did not get any minutes. If Pepi can get healthy and impress at PSV, he may be the guy to fits into Poch’s systems and can offer competition at that spot.
Have to say Colorado fans came out. Nearly full stadium.
The attack was humming today but yet again another game another easy goal.
First of all can we somehow get rid of Kyle Martino please…
It was nice to see Wright finish with confidence, so many times we’ve seen guys scrub those shots and those were confident finishes.
I’ll admit it, Roldan looked the part, pleasantly surprised.
I don’t think Sands did.
I also think Miles is making that RCB spot his.
I know I’m probably in the minority here, but I REALLY hope Musah gets a shot. I gotta think he’d be in the team over Sands and Morris, even Tessman.
Last thing, I’ll be awaiting the referee report from beachbum…
haha…F
You’re being too kind brother
Overall good game.
Roldan balled out. Keep on silencing these MLS haters. Yep looking right at Tac and 11 Yanks.
+1,000!!! Hope the MLS haters eat crow. They will probably come up with some excuse, as always. Such as “it was Australia, not Portugal”
Roldon played a good game, but then in the middle of the second half he played a terrible ball . . . from the center to the right. . .just kicked it out of bounds. He totally and inexplicitly missed Freeman. Most of the team looked disgusted.
That was just one moment, but he didn’t raise and had and say my fault or say he miskicked the ball. weird.
I would say overall a good result. This was such a change of pace and skill level from the Ecuador game.
I was astonished by the change in line-up, but after the game started it made sense. I wish we had some enforcers on the team to help Pulisic – and then later Sands who got run over twice in the first half. We need a Gattuso.
The win is fun, but they are pretty bad in the back. Teams can pretty much just count on mistakes and horrible defending to get goals.
“Teams can pretty much just count on mistakes and horrible defending to get goals.
Yep. But “teams” still lost didn’t they?
And that is the point.
Beggars can’t be choosers. This is the fucking USMNT we’re talking about, not Liverpool or France. They are just beginning to learn how to get out of the locker room and the tunnel w/o issue.
What’s the old saying, ya dance with the one who brung ya…
Vac, your bar is lower than mine. You expect them to get grouped at the world cup; I expect them to better at finding the stage than Spinal Tap. I have never seen any team just hand over scoring opportunities and give away goals regularly like this team does. If they play in the back the way they did yesterday, they probably will get grouped at the world cup, but I am hoping for something better than that. Right now, the way they play, it is just hope.