Freese ’22 Anchors USMNT’s Backline in 2-0 Win Against Australia, Advances to Round of 32 in World Cup

Matt Freese ’22 seldom appeared on air during his last outing for the United States Men’s National Team’s (USMNT) World Cup opening match last Friday against Paraguay.

By the time Paraguay scored its first goal of the game, 73 minutes had passed, and the USMNT had already tallied three. Unfortunately for Freese, Paraguay’s keeper quickly launched the ball upfield, and a sharp passing sequence left Paraguay midfielder Maurício open on the left wing to fire a shot across the goal.

The goal allowed — a blemish on an otherwise unscathed statsheet for Freese — was largely forgotten, as the United States went on to secure a 4-1 victory.

The performance was enough to lock in Freese’s starting spot for the United States’ second group game against Australia. Prior to today’s contest in Seattle, Wash., the Socceroos recorded a convincing 2-0 victory over Turkey. Both the Americans and the Australians sought to clear their competition at the top of Group D.

Ultimately, an offensively dominant first half, capped by an American defensive stronghold in the second half, propelled the United States to a 2-0 victory, securing its place in the Round of 32 with one group-stage game still remaining on its schedule — a feat it had not previously accomplished.

The Americans will win the group outright if Paraguay defeats or ties Turkey later this evening.

“I think it was a fantastic game, again, a very good first half. I think we dominated the game in a very tough, tough team,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino said in an interview with FOX after the game. “When the draw happened in December, I thought it was really difficult.”

All three of the USMNT’s rostered keepers had featured in pre-World Cup friendlies. Freese started in a 2-1 loss against Germany on June 6, while New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner and Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady split halves in a 3-2 victory against Senegal on May 31.

The United States entered the match against Australia without its star winger, as Pochettino announced shortly before the game that Christian Pulisic would be sidelined with a calf injury.

Otherwise, the starting lineup remained the same — Freese included.

“We hope that Christian will be available, but if we want to win the competition, we need the whole team,” Pochettino said in the interview. “All the players need to be important, but of course, Christian is one of the best players in the world. We hope that he can recover as soon as possible.”

Freese faced off against two familiar faces on the Australian side: his New York City FC club teammates, central midfielder Aiden O’Neill — who started — and defender Kai Trewin. The Crimson alum took on the Socceroos less than a year ago, winning 2-1 in a friendly match and recording two saves.

The tests started right out of the gate. Just a minute into the game, a misplaced pass provided an early chance for the Socceroos. Australian striker Mohamed Touré fired a shot at the bottom right, but Freese easily saved the attempt — his first in the World Cup.

Possession on the wings proved important for the Americans, as the team attempted to take advantage of locating their two strikers central in their formation, pairing Folarin Balogun — who scored two against Paraguay — and Ricardo Pepi — Pulisic’s replacement.

The Americans’ defense held the Australians at bay through the next few minutes, with the Socceroos’ only chances coming from high pressure — including forcing another passing error from the United States deep in its own defensive half. The hosts, though, were able to recover.

Ten minutes into the game, having two strikers proved fruitful, and the United States scratched a goal onto the scoresheet. The formation’s spacing allowed Balogun to drift wide, speed past the Australian defender, and cross the ball into the middle, where it was deflected by Aussie defender Cameron Burgess into his own net.

The Socceroos, trailing for the first time this World Cup, increased their aggressiveness in play — only to be rewarded with two yellow cards against their players with most of the half still to go.

Australia struggled to build possession through the field, resorting to hasty clearances and punting the ball downfield. Accordingly, in one play, Freese met the challenge as the United States’s anchor, seamlessly clearing the ball down the wings to his teammate.

The Americans appeared extremely comfortable maintaining possession in their attacking half — controlling at least 60 percent of the possession — as opposed to the Australians’ rather panic-induced play.

Nearing the end of the half, a combination play between United States midfielders Sergino Dest and Malik Tillman led to the Americans winning a free kick on the edge of the penalty box on the right side.

The United States’ wingback Antonee Robinson found Dest at the top of the penalty box. Though Dest’s shot was blocked, American defender Alex Freeman slipped past Australia’s defense to head the ball into the net, notching his first World Cup goal. Although it was initially ruled offside, the goal was confirmed after a lengthy video review, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead to close the first half.

Second-half substitutes from the Australian sideline shifted the momentum to an equilibrium to open up the half. The Socceroos’ fresh legs spurred their offensive players to space ahead of the United States’ backline.

The Australians’ overwhelming presence in the midfield outnumbered the Americans’ territorial control, enabling the guests to get their first offensive chance of the second half. After intense pressure forced a turnover from the United States’ defense trying to advance out of its own half, the Socceroo’s central midfielder Connor Metcalfe — who scored last match against Turkey — fired a shot at the top of the penalty box, which was calmly collected by Freese.

The Americans responded with their own defensive adjustments, powered by defensive substitutes Joe Scally and Auston Trusty. At points, the United States shifted its entire team back to defend against throw-ins.

A battered American lineup — which resulted in yellow cards awarded to Balogun, Robinson, and cornerstone defender Chris Richards to finish the game — led the hosts to exercise caution. Their counterparts, the Socceroos, finished with four yellow cards.

Regardless of the scuffles, Freese and his teammates walked off the pitch victorious as the crowd serenaded the stadium with John Denver’s Country Roads, silencing the Australian fans.

The United States’ next match will be against Turkey on Thursday in Los Angeles, Calif., to close out its group stage play. The Socceroos, meanwhile, will look to earn a spot in the knockout round at their final group stage match against Paraguay.

—Staff writer Uy B. Pham can be reached at [email protected] or on Signal at ubp.88. Follow him on X @uybpham.

—Staff writer Jason Deng can be reached at [email protected].

—Staff writer Nghia L. Nguyen can be reached at [email protected].