Popa’s Juneteenth nightmare ends in limp defeat

USA 2 Australia 0

Master tactician Tony Popovic was left contemplating his selections as the USA romped to a two-goal half-time lead against a hesitant Socceroos team, and there was no magical antidote to the first-half malaise as his misfiring side stumbled to defeat in the Seattle sun. A stupid own goal by Cam Burgess had the visitors on the rack, but it took until just before half time for the hosts to double their lead, Alex Freeman first to a deflected free kick to knock the ball past the otherwise untroubled Patrick Beach. A reaction was needed in the second period, and it did come, but promising moments came to nothing and tempers began to fray in the summer heat, time being easily managed by the home team until the jubilant final whistle. The crowd played its part, vocal and loud, while the Aussie fans behind the goal had to grin and bear it and hope that there is a marked improvement in the final group stage game in just under a week in San Jose.

The doors to Victory Hall weren’t even open and there was a line of thirsty Aussies at the gate, ready to take advantage of the early opening and abridged pre-game for this massive Group D fixture at Seattle Stadium. Pregame frivolity completed, the fans made their way through the streets to the stadium, responding to good-natured jeers and heckles from the USA fans, many in fancy dress, in similar form. “Stand up if your schools are safe” and “We’ve got free healthcare” were two silly chants, although the “Aussie boys on a bender” chant did continue and was sung with glee, even after making the media in the States.

The stadium was filling up quickly, even an hour out from the game. Two young fans were picked from the crowd to make their predictions, the Aussie choosing a 3-1 win for the Socceroos and the young US fan cheekily predicting 10-1. The crowd loved it. Australia had three distinct sections of the stadium, one up in the heights, another in full sun behind the goal and the prawn sandwich brigade behind the dugouts in the west stand. The contrast between the red white and blue of the US and the yellow shirts and inflatable kangaroos of Australia made it easy to see who was who.

By kick-off, the stadium was looking full, access to the stadium very easy, and we were led through the now familiar pre-game routine. Australia’s changes weren’t subtle, both goalscorers withdrawn for this one, Mo Toure on his own up front, and Nishan Velupillay and Mathew Leckie brought in to provide width. Aussies again looked at the team sheet with puzzlement, but it had worked last weekend, why not again today? The national anthems were brilliant. Australia first with their full anthem with the pah-pa-pah at the start that everyone loves, and it was well received. What came next was spine-tingling, the Star Spangled Banner belted out by everyone not in yellow bringing a tear to the eye; nothing like a game against the hosts in a World Cup.

The Socceroos started brightly, the USA Viking clap filled the stadium with noise, and there were boos when a corner award was overturned for the home team. Pantomime season was well and truly open. There was uproar when Leckie was pulled up for a foul, and the partisan crowd was at fever pitch, despite the awkward chants. We didn’t have to wait long for the opening goal though, and the Socceroos was prised open way too easily. Folarin Balogan raced past Jacob Italiano and made for the byline; his cross found Burgess running towards his own goal, and he went at it with the wrong foot and thumped it into his own net, the crowd at full tilt with sheer joy at having taken the lead. Redemption could have been quick, but Leckie poked at a shot with the wrong foot to continue the theme, the ball whistling over the bar.

Burgess was having a tough day – an awful giveaway in midfield and then conceding a corner within a few seconds. Weston McKennie was unlucky with the effort when the ball found him unmarked in the area. Velupillay sliced down his man in front of the US bench, Mauricio Pochettino opting for a hug with the assailant rather than berating the referee, and Jordy Bos was then booked when hauling down his man on the US right. Harry Souttar and Italiano looked at each other either side of a bouncing ball; this was amateur time, even moreso when Burgess laid a lazy pass into the centre that was picked up by an opponent. The left side continued to pay dividends after the coaching break, and the uncharacteristic mistakes continued, Italiano out for a corner with no one around him. Circati was booked for a swiping challenge while the RBB-esque band droned on in the north-east corner of the stadium.

By now, the US team were so confident that Sergino Dest was taking the proverbial out of Bos and there was plenty of showboating. Paul Okon-Engstler and Burgess were the latest to miscommunicate, and the former was involved in a hefty clash of heads, neither player having to go off for the minute punishment despite needing lengthy treatment. Goal two was just as scrappy as the first, a free kick on the byline played back outside the penalty area for a rasping shot that took a wicked deflection and looped towards goal. The Aussies were slow to react, but Freeman, who had just been down holding his head, was first to react and bundle ball into the net for 2-0. The flag was proudly up to spoil the home celebrations, but after a long wait and a helping of agony, the screen displayed goal and the referee confirmed it moments later.

The half-time whistle followed a cheeky chant of USA, USA, USA to the tune of the Japanese Nippon, Nippon; this was a carnival for the US supporters, and for the Aussies nothing had gone right, Bos and Burgess having particularly frustrating games. Popovic rang the changes, Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda on, alongside Jason Geria, but Aiden O’Neill’s attempt to win a free kick from the referee in the first minute went unfulfilled. Balogun was set free for a third, but Souttar made up the ground to make the block. Irankunda wasn’t immune from mistakes, playing a ball straight to an opponent when trying to play out; this was looking less and less like the Tony Poppvic teams we know. Cristian Volpato was introduced, but he ballooned his shot over the bar with his first meaningful contribution, Irankunda having made the run down the right. Irankunda again was played through but was bundled over, the referee seeing nothing wrong, which elicited a “Referee’s a wanker” from the travelling fans who were baking in the hot sun.

The next advertising break was marvellous, Livin’ on a Prayer played at full volume with the whole crowd joining in. Irankunda gave his defender an almighty bump by way of retribution, Okon-Engstler then pushed the ball into his opponent’s chest which resulted in a lecture from the referee. Australia were slowly turning things around, putting up a fight, but it was never convincing. Volpato was involved in a clash and was showing some youthful petulance, Bos having a chance on the half volley, but he caught it on the bounce and it was always rising over the bar. A full house of 66,925 was announced, and from there the US managed the game very well. There was a shout for a penalty, Italiano playing the loose ball back in for Geria to fire in a shot, but it was deflected away. The heat, the scoreline and the fact that nothing seemed to be going their way was causing tempers to rise. Souttar thumped into Balogan, Irankunda fouled his man going up for a header and a flurry of yellow cards followed.

The game was by now out of reach for Australia. Irankunda was scythed down, and the ref stumbled and was down with cramp for a moment. The Socceroos performance was typified by Volpato’s measured cross to precisely no one with a minute of added time remaining. It was all over. Last minute substitutions gave the crowd something to roar about before the referee called it a day. There were hugs for all the staff from Pochettino, boos for the referee from the Australia fans, Country Road belted out over the PA, everyone singing along, and the final U.S.A., U.S.A., was as loud as the crowd had been all night.

We waited patiently for the press conference. Popovic lamented that his team didn’t match their opponents’ power and athleticism in the first half, and by the second half they didn’t have time to get back into it. The goals were soft, the players were flat and lethargic, but he was happy with the response from all the players in the second half. It was a shame we didn’t at least score a goal. Unusually, Popa said he should have perhaps made more changes – an admission maybe that he’d got it wrong from the start.

Pochettino’s press conference was as unstructured as always. There were some facts thrown in from his aides; this was the first time that the US had won their first two games since 1930 and they were now seven wins from seven at Seattle Stadium. The US coach did say that his team was pressing as required and they forced the Socceroos to play long instead of playing their measured long passes. He then treated us to his belief that the IQ of his players was well above normal, which appeared to have no context, and failed to answer any of the questions with a straight answer, other than agreeing that hydration breaks were indeed welcome today in the hot sun.

Was there anything positive to take out of this one for Australia? Of course; the goals stopped at half time, but what weak goals they were. The number of unforced errors was worrying, the ease with which our wing backs were beaten or played around was alarming, and our magnificent defence had a leak that was plugged at half time. For all the positivity after Saturday’s win against Turkey, the negativity from the this one balances it all out, leaving us watching the second game from Group D today with worry rather than intrigue. Did Popa take the changes just a touch too far? What will the response be next week? We’ll find out soon. See you there.