The USA defeated Australia 2-0 in their second group match, continuing their strong run without star winger Christian Pulisic, who is sidelined by a calf injury. With Pulisic unavailable, coach Mauricio Pochettino paired center-forward Ricardo Pepi alongside Folarin Balogun in an unconventional formation designed to overload Australia's defensive shape.
The strategy succeeded immediately. "I feel like it opens up some spaces," Pepi said after his first World Cup start. "If the defenders are marking me, then the other striker is always free. So it's a good thing that we were able to play like this." The USA established a 2-0 halftime lead and maintained control through the final whistle.
Pochettino's adaptation showcased the squad's chemistry after weeks of training together. The USA's coordinated movement and spacing patterns discomfited Australia's compact zonal marking, with the hosts testing their opponents from the opening minutes.
USA's convincing display without their leading player positions them strongly in Group D; markets favoring USA squad depth over Pulisic-dependent odds may shift given the demonstration of tactical flexibility.
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