COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) – Hadji Wright scored in the 33rd and 51st minutes off passes from Christian Roldan and the Americans rallied to beat Australia 2-1 on Tuesday, ending the Socceroos’ unbeaten streak at 12 on a night when Christian Pulisic left the game with an injury.
Australia took the lead in the 19th minute with Jordan Voss’ first shot for No. 25 Socceroos, but Wright equalized shortly after Pulisic appeared to have injured his right leg.
The 16th-ranked Americans defeated a top-25 opponent for the second time in 10 games since coach Mauricio Pochettino took over, improving to 12-7-1.
Wright, who plays for Coventry in England’s second division, has scored 11 goals in 13 appearances for club and country since August.
“They are giving me a position to prove what I can do and allowing me to express myself on the field,” he said. “I’m not just stuck at number nine as a typical striker. I can move freely and I can flow freely.”
Roldan, a member of the 2022 World Cup squad, returned to the national team last month after a two-year absence.
“My wife and I kept saying we believe we can get away late and push late. Hopefully, I want to make my case,” he said.
Pochettino, who has been at a disadvantage and without a win, will have just four more games to play before summoning his players to a pre-World Cup training camp. The U.S. plays Paraguay on Nov. 18, then Uruguay four days later, followed by two more friendlies in March.
Australia had won seven straight games and remained undefeated since the start of the tournament. September 2024 Lost to Bahrain in the World Cup qualifiers.
Substitute appearance is limited due to right ankle injury 1-1 draw against Ecuador on FridayPulisic stumbled onto the pitch in the 26th minute after being tripped by Jason Guerria. Pulisic left the pitch after being examined by an athletic trainer and was replaced by Diego Luna in the 30th minute.
Pochettino said Pulisic appears to have injured his hamstring and will undergo further tests on Tuesday night before returning to Milan on Wednesday.
Australia took the lead after the boss parried a throw-in that James Sands tried to clear. The ball spun into the penalty area. The boss took the ball to his chest, separating Roldan and Sands, then beat Chris Richards and fired the ball home with his left foot, past the outstretched left arm of Matt Frees for his second international goal.
Wright tied the score when Richards intercepted a pass and passed it to Roldan, who headed the ball to Weston McKennie who received the return pass. Roldan sent a through ball to Wright, who took a touch with his left foot and lofted the ball past goalkeeper Matthew Ryan from about 10 yards out on his right.
Wright scored his seventh international goal after Roldan made a quick restart and kicked the ball into the penalty area from two-thirds of the field. Wright ran onto the ball after four bounces, cut inside as Cameron Burgess fell, and curled the ball inside the far post with his left foot from about 14 yards out.
Ryan blocked Luna’s close range 6-yard shot in the 79th inning.
Pochettino made six changes to his starting XI, bringing in Pulisic, Wright, Roldan and Sands, as well as defender Mark McKenzie and right wing-back Alex Freeman. Tim Weah was shifted to left wing-back. It was the Suns’ first appearance since July 2023, and Freeze’s 10th consecutive start as a goaltender. Midfielder Malik Tillman did not dress because he felt cramps in his thighs during Monday’s training.
In the 90th minute, Frees saved Nestly Ilankunda’s shot from close range.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
