Tony Popovic suffers first loss as Australia coach as USA bury Socceroos with Haji Wright brace in Denver
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Tony Popovic has suffered his first loss as Socceroos coach as the United States came from behind to win Wednesday's (AEDT) friendly 2-1 in Denver.
Rising star Jordy Bos continued his stunning form to score the opening goal for Australia and silence the parochial home crowd.
But Haji Wright grabbed a brace for Mauricio Pochettino's men, punishing some untidy Socceroos defending with a goal either side of halftime.
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Referee Kwinsi Williams separates Cameron Burgess of Australia and Chris Richards of the United States. Getty
The Socceroos went into the fixture unbeaten in 11 games under Popovic and had won their last seven in a row.
Bos is fresh from making history by becoming the first Australian to win the player of the month of the award in the Eredivisie - the Netherlands first division.
The 22-year-old Feyenoord left back is brimming with confidence and he shocked the crowd at Dick's Sporting Goods Park by waltzing through some soft defence to finish with his preferred left boot in the 19th minute.
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Jordan Bos of Australia celebrates scoring at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Getty
"If ever the start of a football match has followed a trend line, it's this one," Andy Harper said on commentary.
"Australia with nothing, apart from chasing shadows and the US with the ball, and then they completely unravel defensively.
"Horrible from the US, magnificent from Jordy Bos, whose perseverance and confidence, found the weakness, found the opportunity. Made the most of that opportunity."
Mauricio Pochettino shakes hands with Tony Popovic. Getty
The USA had been angsty before the match as the national team struggled to find form ahead of co-hosting next year's World Cup.
The USA are ranked 16th in the world while Australia are No.25.
The Americans are coached by Mauricio Pochettino, who earns a whopping $9.2 million per year.
"Australia keep marching on quite remarkably in this vein," Harper continued after Bos' goal.
"And disappointingly for the US they're continuing on their own unchecked trajectory of calamity after calamity, pressure upon pressure, and Bos delivers for the Socceroos."
Stan Sport expert Craig Foster has tipped Bos as the most likely Australian player to earn a Premier League contract.
Christian Pulisic of the United States leaves the game after picking up an injury. Getty
The first half got worse for the Americans when captain Christian Pulisic, the AC Milan star, limped off with injury.
But the hosts drew level at 1-1 in the 33rd minute when Coventry City's Haji Wright seized on a turnover.
"Poor in possession and the USA just pick Australia apart. Unstoppable for Mat Ryan," Harper said.
Haji Wright of the United States celebrates scoring during the first half against Australia. Getty
Wright then put the hosts in front in the second half with his second goal of the match.
The USA caught Australia's defence by surprise with a quick free kick and Wright finished sharply as Cam Burgess was wrong footed.
Socceroos substitute Nestory Irankunda went close in the 89th minute with a brilliant run but American goalkeeper Matt Freese was alert.
The USA enjoyed 64 per cent of possession and had 10 shots on goal to Australia's nine.
Wright scored in the 33rd and 51st minutes off passes from Cristian Roldan, as the United States rallied to beat a top-25 opponent for just the second time in 10 matches and improved to 12 wins, seven defeats and one draw since Pochettino took over.
Pochettino, who had not won after trailing, has his team together for just four more matches before he calls in players for his pre-World Cup training camp.
A Socceroos fan at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Getty
The USA hosts Paraguay on November 18 and Uruguay four days later, then has two more friendlies in March.
Australia had been unbeaten since a 2024 loss to Bahrain in a World Cup qualifier - a 12 game run, including 11 under Popovic.
Limited by an ankle injury to a substitute role in Friday's 1-1 draw against Ecuador, Pulisic stumbled to the turf when he was tripped by Jason Geria in the 26th minute.
After being examined by an athletic trainer, Pulisic left the field and was replaced by Diego Luna in the 30th minute.
Australia went ahead after Bos bounced a throw-in that James Sands tried to clear only for the ball to spin into the penalty area.
Bos chested the ball to himself, split Roldan and Sands, then beat Chris Richards to the ball and hooked it with his left foot past Freese's outstretched left arm for his second international goal.
Wright levelled the score after Richards intercepted a pass and played it to Roldan, who headed the ball to Juventus star Weston McKennie and then received a return pass.
Roldan slid a through ball to Wright, who took a touch with his left foot and with his right lifted the ball over goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
Wright got his seventh international goal after Roldan took a quick restart and booted the ball two-thirds of the way down the field and into the penalty area.
Wright ran onto the ball after four bounces and cut inside as Burgess fell, then curled the ball inside the far post with his left foot.
Popovic made five changes to the team that beat Canada 1-0, with captain Ryan replacing Paul Izzo in goal.
The Socceroos will return to action in the November window, before the World Cup draw on December 5.
- with AP
