Wright's Brace, Both Assisted by Roldan, Help the USMNT See Past Australia
The United States secured an impressive 2-1 victory over Australia on Tuesday night at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park in Colorado, with striker Haji Wright delivering a decisive brace to halt the Socceroos' 12-match unbeaten run. The triumph marked a significant achievement for Mauricio Pochettino's squad, representing their first comeback win under the Argentine manager.
The match began poorly for the hosts when Australia's Jordan Bos capitalized on a defensive mishap in the 19th minute. After his own throw-in was poorly cleared by James Sands, the Feyenoord defender seized the loose ball inside the penalty area and fired home a left-footed strike to give the visitors an early advantage.
The Americans' situation grew more concerning when captain Christian Pulisic was forced off in the 30th minute with a lower leg injury, having been on the receiving end of several heavy challenges. However, his replacement, Diego Luna, helped energize the attack, and just three minutes after entering, the U.S. found its equalizer.
Cristian Roldan, who orchestrated both goals, slipped a perfectly weighted through ball to Wright in the 33rd minute. The Coventry City striker finished clinically with the outside of his right foot to level the contest. Roldan's creativity shone again early in the second half when he quickly restarted play after a foul, launching a long pass down the right wing that Wright ran onto. The forward cut inside his defender and curled an exquisite left-footed finish into the far corner for his seventh international goal.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese preserved the victory with crucial saves, including a stoppage-time denial of Nestory Irankunda's close-range effort. The result extended America's winning streak in Colorado to seven matches. It provided valuable momentum as Pochettino continues building toward the 2026 World Cup on home soil, with upcoming November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay.
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