00:00The United States advanced to the World Cup knockout rounds with a game to spare following an impressive 2-0
00:06win over Australia on Friday, stoking the hopes of an already hyped host nation.
00:11The U.S. joined fellow tournament co-hosts Mexico as the first teams to progress, and could be a sure
00:17top spot in Group D if Turkey failed to beat Paraguay later Friday.
00:21Excitement had been running high from last week's U.S. thrashing of Paraguay, and a glorious day in the Pacific
00:28Northwest did not disappoint the red-and-white-clad fans who packed Seattle's Lumen Field and its surrounding streets and
00:35bars.
00:35Even before kickoff, Chance of USA rocked a stadium best known as the raucous home of the Super Bowl champion
00:43Seattle Seahawks, but also a U.S. soccer hotbed that hosts the local Sounders.
00:48Without injured talisman attacker Christian Pulisic, who failed to recover from a cap issue in time, coach Mauricio Pochettino switched
00:56to a 4-4-2 formation, bringing in second striker Ricardo Pepe.
01:00For the second game running, the U.S. were gifted an early lead, thanks to an own goal in the
01:0611th minute.
01:07Playing slightly wider than usual, star striker Fuller and Balogun raced down the left and cut the ball back from
01:14the byline.
01:14Under pressure from a lurking Pepe, Aussie defender Cameron Burgess steered the ball into his own net.
01:21Having surprisingly dropped both goal scorers from their impressive opening win over Turkey, Australia looked toothless.
01:28The U.S. controlled possession and were lively and dynamic on the attack, Weston McKinney and Sergino Dest combining well
01:35down the right point.
01:37Alex Freeman doubled the U.S. lead in the 44th minute from what was surprisingly his team's first shot on
01:43target.
01:43Taking a free kick from the right byline, Anthony Robinson ignored the scrum in the box and played the ball
01:50to Sergino Dest, wide open in the D, whose blocked shot looped up into the air.
01:55Freeman's son of Super Bowl-winning NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman was first to the ball, heading it past Patrick
02:02Beach.
02:02The offside flag went up, but it was overturned by VAR, and the stadium rocked for a second a time.
02:09Australia made three changes at the break, sending on Conor Metcalf and Nestri Irankenda.
02:14The goal scorers against Turkey and pushed higher up the field.
02:18They were nearly caught out immediately.
02:20Balogun raced onto a through ball for a one-on-one chance, but his shot was blocked after a heavy
02:25touch.
02:26Australia's best chance so far came in the 62nd minute.
02:30The dangerous Christian Volpato who switched allegiance from Italy to Australia on the eve of the tournament skied his shot
02:37from Irankenda's cutback pass.
02:39With the U.S. sitting back, Metcalf had a shot saved, a rampaging Irankenda was brought down by Richards, and
02:47Jason Giria's close-range effort was blocked in a nervy final phase for the hosts.
02:51But despite late flaring tensions between the teams, the Americans held on for the clean sheet, and will have the
02:58luxury of playing Turkey next Thursday, knowing their spot in the round of 32 is secured.
03:03With home advantage and sparkling form so far, U.S. fans will be dreaming of a run to the quarterfinals,
03:10which they last reached in 2002 and even beyond.
03:21Thank you very much.
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