Source : the age
More excellent play from the US as their players flood forward, outnumbered but thinking nothing of it. They move down the left and then cut inside and drift over to the right, all tricky feet and deception, before Dest draws a very good save from Beach. That’s it for the first half.
There will be seven minutes off added time, due to the drinks break and the head-clash stoppage, and that will seem an eternity for the Socceroos, who no doubt would like to get off the pitch and into the rooms as soon as possible. The pressure on them throughout this half has been remarkable. The Americans are outplaying them, and the Australians on the pitch are visibly shaken.
USA 2-0 Australia, 45+3 minutes
It stems from a move on the right, with the Americans drawing Burgess out and then using the space behind him. Okon does well to hold up his man but ultimately fouled him and the US get a set play.
The delivery is sent back to Dest who, from outside the box, rifles it towards goal. It takes a deflection and Freeman heads it home. The offside flag goes up. Is Freeman offside? Not by the look of the replays. A US player is, but not Freeman.
The VAR is checking. “After review, the player was NOT in an offside position,” the referee says.
USA 2-0 Australia, 43 minutes
His dad, Okon snr, is observing intently from Australia’s dugout as his son goes through the requisite medical checks to be able to continue playing. He is drinking water and appears lucid. More so than Freeman, who looks groggy. But he clears his checks, too, and play resumes as the clock ticks towards half-time.
USA 1-0 Australia, 42 minutes
Both have gone to ground and are being seen to by medics. It doesn’t look nice at all.
Socceroo Italiano is being made to run, as the Americans continue to drag him out. Circati, too. Italiano is quick enough to keep up with Balogun on this occasion, but in the next move the forward gets away. Australia have 30 per cent possession so far. This statistic is rarely an exhaustive reflection of a contest, as we saw against Turkey, but it is more relevant here.
Circati is using the stoppage to talk to Popovic.
USA 1-0 Australia, 40 minutes
A little bit naughty, that was. It didn’t look like Circati meant to catch Tillman, but that scrape of boot over calf was enough for the referee to reach into his pocket for the second yellow card against the Socceroos. Popovic is cutting an agitated figure on the sideline, his charges just a half-beat off the pace.
USA 1-0 Australia, 35 minutes
Robinson utilises the left flank once again for the US with a darting dash. But he cannot follow up with a decent cross. But the movement from his teammates through the midfield, with McKennie and Adams controlling the tempo, is impressive. “USA! USA!” rings out around the stadium as their team drag out Italiano once again.
USA 1-0 Australia, 30 minutes
It’s getting rowdy among the US fans at Lumen – the American fans not liking a number of consecutive heavy tackles and free kicks awarded against the Socceroos.
Much was made in the build up about how much of a physical encounter this would be – the US fans chanting “You can’t do that” as Bos was shown his yellow.
The Socceroos desperately needed the hydration break to settle themselves here.
Hope you have your refreshment ready for the “Maccas Match Break”. It comes complete with an ad for Maccas, as you’d expect, and some more SBS adverts. I’d imagine – even though I can’t see it because of said ads – the Socceroos are getting some instructions from Popovic. They have already benefited from this early tactical break at this tournament. Will it work again?
USA 1-0 Australia, 27 minutes
