Wright brace powers USMNT past Socceroos

USA 2-1 Australia

COMMERCE CITY, CO– Two goals by Haji Wright either side of halftime gave the USA a 2-1 win over Australia in an international friendly at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park near Denver. The USA’s win snaps Australia seven-match win streak and 12-match unbeaten streak while the USA are now unbeaten in their last three friendlies.

It did not start auspiciously for the USA as they fell behind in the 19th minute. Jordan Bos took the throw-in and dribbled inside the box and beat Matt Freese far post to give the Socceroos the advantage. Things appeared worse for the USA when captain Christian Pulisic left the match in the 31st minute with a hamstring injury. He only played 17 minutes against Ecuador on Friday.

However, Haji Wright stepped to the plate and equalized after collecting a thru-ball from Cristian Roldan in the 33rd minute. The Coventry City striker leads the English Championship in scoring and was making his first start for the USA in 13 months.

Wright’s second goal came six minutes into the second half as after a quick restart, Roldan again found Wright making a run and the latter curled the shot past Matt Ryan to make it 2-1. Matt Freese would make one key save late in the 89th minute denying Nestory Irakunda to preserve the victory.

Next up in November are a pair of friendlies against “the Guays”–Paraguay and Uruguay. First, the USA will play Paraguay on Saturday, November 15th at Subaru Park in Chester, PA, and then Uruguay on Tuesday, November 18th, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Photos by LA Brothers

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