United States: 2, Australia 0
Embed from Getty ImagesAnother World Cup demolition for the United States, this time over Australia, who previously had no trouble downing Turkiye 2-0.
Striker Folarin Balogun got the scoring started for the Americans in the 11th minute. It will go down as an own goal, but it was his run that put centre back Cameron Burgess in an unfortunate position.
The United States stayed on the attack against Australia’s low block, and a second goal was ruled off for offsides from centre back Alex Freeman. After a long VAR review, the goal was ruled onsides, a huge moment for Freeman and for the USA when the entire team went to celebrate with him.
Although they didn’t get a goal in the second half, the United States dominated against the Australians. When the full time whistle blew, the Americans won Group D, the first time they had ever topped a group.
For Australia, all they need to do is draw Paraguay in the final match to finish second in the group.
Player of the Match: Alex Freeman (Villarreal)
Morocco: 1, Scotland: 0
Embed from Getty ImagesThe fastest goal of the tournament so far from striker Ismael Saibari put Morocco on the board against Scotland in just 71 seconds, his second of the tournament.
Morocco was able to dominate the chances against Scotland, showcasing their might as a top ten team on the FIFA rankings. Scotland didn’t have a shot on target in the match despite possession being similar.
Saibari’s goal would hold up at the full time whistle, even with Scotland having a barrage of opportunities towards the end of the match.
Morocco will go through with a win over Haiti, and are still in the running for first in the group, depending on how the other match, Scotland against Brazil, goes. Scotland are in the same boat, but will need to beat Brazil, and get some help from Haiti.
Player of the Match (PSV Eindhoven)
Brazil: 3, Haiti: 0
Embed from Getty ImagesBrazil still aren’t playing at their best, but this game was much more up to the Brazilian standard. Being held to a draw against Morocco, even if Morocco are only one spot behind Brazil in the rankings, raised a lot of alarms for Brazilian fans.
Striker Matheus Cunha, who did not start in the opening match against Morocco, provided the spark for the Brazilians. He scored first in the 23rd minute, after a Haitian player kicked the ball off of Cunha and in, and added a second in the 36th minute with a great strike into the top of the net.
Left winger Vinicius Junior got his second of the tournament, and added Brazil’s third of the first half, also assisting on Cunha’s second goal.
Brazil didn’t score in the second half, and Haiti should have scored a couple of times, still looking for their first of the tournament, but Brazil put themselves in great position to win the group, a win against Scotland will do the trick.
Haiti have unfortunately been knocked out of the tournament with one match remaining.
Player of the Match: Matheus Cunha (Manchester United)
Paraguay: 1, Turkiye: 0
Embed from Getty ImagesSaibari didn’t last long as the fastest goal scorer of the tournament, as Paraguay’s left midfielder Matias Galarza banged one home after just 64 seconds of match time from far outside the box.
A new rule was enforced for the first time in first half stoppage time, when Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron was caught talking with his mouth covered, which is an automatic red card. It put Paraguay in an unfortunate situation having to defend a Turkish onslaught for the second half.
Paraguay had to defend Turkiye for 45 minutes and hold onto their 1-0 lead with some of the best young talents in the world in attack for Turkiye. In the match, Turkiye had 32 total shots, and 5 shots on target, but no goals. Paraguay did what they needed to do and slammed the door.
A total disaster for Turkiye, who have been eliminated from the World Cup after failing to get a point in their first two matches. Turkiye was one of the favorites, along with the United States, to win Group D, but failed to even make it out of the group stage.
Player of the Match: Matias Galarza (Atlanta United)
