COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Haji Wright scored in the 33rd and 51st minutes off assists from Christian Roldan and the United States rallied to beat Australia 2-1 on Tuesday, ending the Socceroos' 12-game unbeaten streak on a night Christian Pulisic left the game because injuries.
Jordan Bos gave the No. 25 Socceroos the lead in the 19th minute from the Australians' first strike, but Wright equalized just after Pulisic appeared to injure his right leg.
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The 16th-ranked Americans defeated a top-25 opponent for just the second time in 10 matches and improved to 12 wins, seven losses and one draw since coach Mauricio Pochettino took over.
Pochettino, who failed to win after falling behind, will assemble his squad for four more matches before he calls up the players for his training camp ahead of the World Cup. The U.S. will host Paraguay on Nov. 18 and Uruguay four days later, followed by two more friendlies in March.
Australia have won seven games in a row and haven't lost since Defeated by Bahrain in September 2024 in a World Cup qualifying match.
Due to the ankle injury, the role of the reserve player is limited. Friday's match against Ecuador – 1:1.Pulisic came on when he was tripped by Jason Geria in the 26th minute. After being examined by the sports trainer, Pulisic left the field and was replaced by Diego Luna in 30th place.
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Australia took the lead after Bos saved a throw-in which James Sands tried to clear but the ball was sent into the penalty area. Bos tucked the ball in, separated Roldan and Sands, then beat Chris Richards and left-footed the ball past Matt Freeze's outstretched left arm for his second international goal.
Wright equalized after Richards intercepted a pass and passed it to Roldan, who headed the ball to Weston McKennie before receiving a return pass. Roldan played a through ball to Wright, who touched it with his left foot and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Matthew Ryan with his right from about 10 yards.
Wright scored his seventh international goal after Roldan quickly restarted the game and fired the ball two-thirds of the way into the penalty area. Wright ran onto the ball after four bounces and cut inside as Cameron Burgess went down before curling the ball inside the far post with his left foot from around 14 yards.
Ryan blocked Luna's 6-yard point-blank shot in the 79th.
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Pochettino changed six starters, including Pulisic, Wright, Roldan and Sands, as well as defender Mark McKenzie and right-back Alex Freeman. Tim Weah has moved to left wing-back. Sands made his first appearance since July 2023 and Freeze made his 10th straight start at goaltender. Linebacker Malik Tillman did not dress.
Freeze stopped Nestori Iracunda's shot from close range in the 90th.
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AP football: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
