4 Takeaways From The U.S. Males's Group's 2-1 Win Over Australia

[ad_1] COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — A bittersweet outcome for the U.S. males's group because the march towards subsequent summer season's World Cup continues.

The excellent news? Haji Wright scored twice to safe the primary come-from-behind win beneath coach Mauricio Pochettino. The unhealthy? USMNT star Christian Pulisic was compelled to go away the pleasant within the first half due to what seemed to be an damage to his proper hamstring.

Listed below are my takeaways:

1. Pulisic's damage overshadows win The nation’s greatest attacking participant got here into this two-match window nursing a hamstring drawback that Pochettino mentioned has been bothering him since AC Milan’s preseason. It swelled up following final Wednesday’s coaching session in Austin, Texas — ruling Pulisic out of Thursday’s follow and limiting him to lower than 20 minutes off the bench a day later.

However there Pulisic was again within the beginning lineup at Dick’s Sporting Good Park — a lot to the delight of the house followers. That feeling didn’t final. After being on the receiving finish of two crunching early tackles, Pulisic — carrying the captain’s armband in Tim Ream’s absence — limped to the U.S. dressing room after being changed by Diego Luna. There was no instant phrase on Pulisic’s situation, but it surely was a worrying sight nonetheless.

"He's nonetheless being assessed," a USMNT spokesperson mentioned. "We’ll have an replace after the sport."

Christian Pulisic had an early night after coming off on account of an obvious damage. (Photograph by Omar Vega/Getty Photographs)

2. Haji makes probably the most of his likelihood Wright made his first profession begin beneath Pochettino and simply his his fifth general. Two of these got here on the 2022 World Cup. However his final 5 appearances had all been off the bench. So had 14 of his earlier 18.

Enjoying the middle ahead function Folarin Balogun excelled in over the past three video games, Wright took benefit of the chance. Fourteen minutes after the guests opened the scored, the rangy Los Angeles native pulled the People degree by ending off a passing sequence that included Richards, Weston McKennie and Roldan, who sprung Wright and was rewarded with the help:

Wright’s second purpose was even higher. Roldan once more arrange the strike by taking a fast free kick following a foul about 80 yards from the Aussies’ purpose. Wright ran onto the service, then turned center-back Cameron Burgess inside out with a cutback earlier than curling his shot contained in the far put up:

3. U.S. offers up the primary purpose once more For the second match in a row, sloppy play by the People allowed their opponent to attain first, leaving the hosts chasing the sport towards a stout defensive foe. In final week’s 1-1 tie towards Ecuador, an Aidan Morris turnover sprung a counterattack that completed with U.S. keeper Matt Fresse choosing the ball out the again of his web.

On Tuesday, the USMNT dedicated an much more egregious error, because the Socceroos opener got here following a throw-in deep in their very own half — a cardinal sin at any degree, not to mention the very best one. Defender Chris Richards and defensive midfielder Cristian Roldan have been each sluggish to react when James Sands acquired a toe on the throw by Australia’s Jordan Bos. Roldan ultimately stepped to the ball, however he was solely capable of deflect it into the midsection of Bos. The Feyenoord left again managed, then blasted house a shot that Freese had no likelihood of saving:

With simply two coaching camps remaining earlier than Mauricio Pochettino names his roster for the 2026 World Cup, the match co-hosts should tighten that up briefly order to hav any likelihood of constructing a deep run on house soil subsequent summer season. "We conceded a purpose," Pochettino advised TNT’s Melissa Ortiz at halftime, "that we shouldn’t concede."

4. Poch retains on tinkering Throughout his pregame press convention on Monday, the previous Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur supervisor prompt that he would rotate gamers for the again finish of the two-contest set given the cooler temperatures and mile-high altitude within the higher Denver space. He ended up switching out greater than half of his beginning lineup, making six modifications in all.

Together with Balogun, Ream was additionally on the subs bench together with Morris, Max Arfsten, Tanner Tessmann and Malik Tillman, who wasn’t even in uniform. (Arfsten, Balogun and Tessmann entered within the second half, as did Brenden Aaronson, who didn’t characteristic final week.)

Of their locations have been Roldan, Wright, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie and defensive midfielder James Sands, who gained his first cap in additional than two years. All acquitted themselves properly, with heart again McKenzie teaming with Richards and Miles Robinson for the primary time. That’s a high-quality drawback for Pochettino to have going ahead.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has lined United States males's and girls's nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Comply with him @ByDougMcIntyre.