Co-hosts the United States powered into the knock-out stages of the World Cup after swatting aside Australia 2-0 on Friday and sending fans in Seattle wild.
Supporter trepidation that the home side might not be strong enough to escape Group D has been transformed into a growing belief they could do some damage in the knock-outs.
All the controversy before the World Cup about ticket prices and visas is now on the back burner in the US after Mauricio Pochettino’s team deservedly made it two wins from two.
Cameron Burgess put Folarin Balogun‘s cross into his own net after 11 minutes, meaning the US became the first team to benefit from an own goal in successive men’s World Cup games.
It was added to by Alex Freeman before half-time. A video review showed he was onside before the ball ballooned up for him to head home.
The US were without their driving force Christian Pulisic because of a leg injury. He had come off at the break in the opening 4-1 win over Paraguay.
Ricardo Pepi replaced him against the Australians and the hosts showed they could cope in the absence of the AC Milan man.
Roared on by a crowd known as the “12th man” when Super Bowl champions the Seattle Seahawks play in the stadium, the US never gave a weak Australia any hope. They have won all their seven games in Washington state’s biggest city.
The Socceroos surprisingly dropped Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe despite the pair scoring in the 2-0 win over Turkey first up.
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