USA advances to World Cup knockout stage by beating Australia

SEATTLE — Minutes after the U.S. men’s national team dispatched Australia, 2-0, in its second World Cup game at Lumen Field on Friday, the pro-American crowd started singing John Denver’s classic, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”

U.S. players decided to join in to celebrate the victory.

“I think as part of being American is On Country Roads,” said center back Chris Richards, who spearheaded the defense. “We’re all singing it together. It was cool to hear everything from the crowd. They’ve been our 12th man in this tournament. It’s been amazing.”

Amazing is the right word to describe what the Americans have accomplished in their first two Group D matches. Something special is happening.

“There’s something about this one that just feels different,” captain Tim Ream said. “But just the different personalities, the way everybody meshes, the way everybody fits together. It’s really enjoyable.”

The last time the U.S. won two group stage matches? It was 96 years ago in the first World Cup in 1930.

The team not only has won both games but already has clinched a spot in the knockout round. The USA won the group after Paraguay (1-1-0, 3) recorded a 1-0 victory over Türkiye (0-2-0, 0), in a late game in Santa Clara, California. The South Americans played the entire second half with 10 men after Miguel Almiron was red-carded. Matias Galarza scored 65 seconds after the opening kickoff, the fastest goal in the competition to date.

The U.S. will face Türkiye in its final group match in Inglewood, California, on Thursday night.

Recent U.S. World Cup teams needed the third and final match and some drama to determine their fate. The U.S. has turned heads, enjoying success in different ways.

In its 4-1 victory over Paraguay on June 12, the United States combined a pressing defense and flair to roll to a 3-0 halftime lead, a first for the team in a dozen World Cup appearances. Those four goals also were a team record.

The U.S. realized it was in for a different challenge against the physical Australians, who were pretty confident themselves after recording a surprising 2-0 win over Türkiye in their opener.

The Socceroos like to pack it in on defense and try for a quick counterattack to score. A combination of long U.S. periods of possession — the best way to play defense — and a stout back line that refused to crack under occasional pressure was the difference.

The Americans accomplished the win without their best player, forward Christian Pulisic, who suffered a left calf injury in the Paraguay game. As talented as Pulisic is, it seemed the U.S. never missed a beat with Ricardo Pepi starting in his place.

“The versatility of this team is insane,” defensive midfielder Tyler Adams said.

This game had a similarity to the Paraguay encounter, as the U.S. scored yet another own goal when defender Cameron Burgess deflected Folarin Balogun’s cross into his own net in the 11th minute.

The Americans doubled their advantage when Alex Freeman, the son of former Green Bay Packers receiver and 1997 Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman, scored off a point-blank header in the 43rd minute. He had to wait to celebrate because an assistant referee said Freeman was offside. After the video assistant referee ruled otherwise, the USA had a two-goal cushion.

It was a special moment for Freeman, who called it “a full-circle family moment.”

“For me, it just shows how great the family tree is,” he said. “He can be great, but I can be great in my own way as well. I think that just shows how amazing it is to have a dad who’s successful and that can mentor me to be able to be ready for moments like these.”

Lake Grove native Joe Scally made his World Cup debut, replacing Sergino Dest at right back in the 80th minute. He was on the 2022 team that competed in Qatar but did not play.

“I was looking forward to it for a while,” Scally said. “I had to wait these four years to get my chance. I had tears in my eyes. I was very happy to enjoy that moment, not just with myself, the team and my family being here. It was very special.”

Then again, just about everything that is happening with the U.S. team in this World Cup has been special.