Socceroos lose to US in first defeat of Popovic era

The Socceroos person suffered their archetypal decision under manager Tony Popovic, slipping to a 2-1 nonaccomplishment to World Cup hosts the United States.

A wonderful solo extremity from the sensational Jordy Bos gave Australia the pb successful the 19th minute, earlier Haji Wright equalised 14 minutes later.

Wright added a 2nd successful the 51st infinitesimal to steer the world No.16 US, led by Mauricio Pochettino, to victory astatine Dick’s Sporting Goods Park successful Colorado.

The Socceroos were unbeaten successful their erstwhile 11 games under Popovic, and connected a seven-game winning run, and would person been disappointed with their antiaircraft lapses.

But they will take plentifulness from a window that serves arsenic important mentation for adjacent year’s World Cup finals successful North America.

Popovic made 5 changes to the team that bushed Canada 1-0, headlined by skipper Maty Ryan replacing Paul Izzo successful goals.

Bos, Martin Boyle, Jason Geria and Nick D’Agostino started, with Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, Milos Degenek and Kye Rowles benched.

The US dominated possession, with the Socceroos midfield struggling to support a ft connected the ball.

Australia scored aft James Sands attempted to artifact a Bos throw-in but the shot skewed disconnected his boot.

Feyenoord weapon Bos rushed successful to conscionable it, took a beauteous archetypal touch with his chest, then danced astir three US defenders, earlier scoring with a terrific whipped left-footed finish.

Geria was booked for bringing down Christian Pulisic connected a counterattack successful the 27th minute, with the US skipper forced disconnected minutes later.

The US broke done when the Socceroos mislaid possession, with Weston McKennie uncovering Cristian Roldan and the midfielder slipped done Wright to people astatine the adjacent post.

Six minutes later, Roldan dragged a changeable conscionable wide of the acold post, and Wright headed a country implicit the barroom successful the 38th minute.

The last minutes of the archetypal fractional descended into spotfires.

The Socceroos should person restored their pb a infinitesimal into the 2nd fractional aft different scything Bos run, lone for Connor Metcalfe to person his changeable blocked.

The US made Australia pay, taking a speedy escaped kick, with Roldan releasing Wright with a agelong ball. The Coventry City striker turned Cameron Burgess wrong retired earlier coolly finishing past Ryan.

Australia dominated aft the extremity and Popovic turned to Toure, Irankunda, Ajdin Hrustic and Patrick Yazbek disconnected the seat to adhd energy.

Bos went connected a wonderful tally successful the 75th infinitesimal but was closed down, earlier Ryan made a large prevention to contradict Diego Luna successful the 79th minute

Irankunda dazzled with an enchanting tally successful the 89th infinitesimal but was denied by Matt Freese, and Australia couldn’t find an equaliser.

The Socceroos will instrumentality to enactment successful the November window, earlier the World Cup gully connected December 5.

Source: AAP