COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — October 14, 2025.
A surging Haji Wright and a vintage Cristian Roldan performance were the difference Tuesday night as the United States Men’s National Team closed out the October international window on a high note, rallying for a 2–1 victory over 25th-ranked Australia before 18,218 fans at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
The win capped an encouraging three-match unbeaten stretch for head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s side — a run that included a 2–0 win over Japan and a 1–1 draw versus Ecuador earlier in the month — and snapped Australia’s 12-game unbeaten streak dating back to March 2024.
A New Look, but Same Fight
Pochettino made six changes to his lineup from the Ecuador draw, notably restoring Christian Pulisic to the starting XI and handing the captain’s armband to the AC Milan star. Joining him were James Sands and Cristian Roldan in central midfield, Alex Freeman at wing-back, Mark McKenzie in a back-three with Miles Robinson and Chris Richards, and the in-form Haji Wright, who’s been tearing up the Championship with Coventry City.
Despite the rotation, the United States started with confidence, working possession methodically through the back line to stretch Australia’s compact shape. For all their early control, though, it was the Socceroos who struck first.
Australia Draws First Blood
In the 19th minute, a harmless-looking throw-in turned dangerous when Jordan Bos pounced on a loose ball in the area. The forward took one touch to settle and then fired a bouncing left-footer past Matt Freese to give Australia the early lead.
For the second straight match the U.S. found itself chasing the game, but the response was immediate and energetic. Wright tested the defense with a clever turn that sprang Tim Weah down the right, forcing a full-stretch save from veteran goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
Moments later, Diego Luna replaced Pulisic — a planned early substitution — and the adjustment brought fresh energy into the attacking third.
Wright and Roldan Ignite the Comeback
The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute, and it was a sequence of speed, precision, and timing. Weston McKennie advanced the ball centrally to Roldan, who split the defense with a pinpoint through-ball to Wright. The striker’s finish — an audacious outside-of-the-foot touch on the run — left Ryan rooted as the ball curled inside the far post to make it 1–1.
Roldan, who hadn’t started since March, looked rejuvenated in Pochettino’s free-flowing setup. The Seattle Sounders midfielder nearly put the U.S. ahead minutes later, missing the top corner by inches before sending a second-half volley just over the bar. His work rate and composure were contagious, steadying a midfield that had looked unsettled early.
The Second-Half Statement
Australia pressed to open the second half, with Connor Metcalfe and Aiden O’Neill forcing Freese into alert saves. But in the 51st minute, Roldan again turned creator in a flash of quick thinking. Spotting space behind Australia’s back line after a foul near midfield, he restarted play immediately with a long diagonal ball that found Wright in stride. The forward cut inside his marker and curled a left-footed beauty past Ryan — his second of the night and seventh career international goal.
That instinctive connection between Roldan and Wright proved decisive, showcasing both the veteran’s awareness and the striker’s confidence. It also rewarded Pochettino’s emphasis on transitional sharpness, an area the team had labored on through camp.
Pochettino’s Tactical Tweaks Pay Off
Protecting a 2–1 advantage, Pochettino turned to his bench in the 64th minute, sending on Folarin Balogun, Brenden Aaronson, and Tanner Tessmann to maintain attacking tempo while freshening legs in midfield. Later, Aidan Morris and Max Arfsten replaced the industrious duo of Roldan and McKennie.
Australia, meanwhile, introduced pace through Mohamed Touré and 19-year-old phenom Nestory Irankunda, whose direct running caused brief panic in the closing minutes. But Freese — making his 10th straight start, the team’s longest active streak — was up to the task, smothering Irankunda’s close-range shot in the 88th to preserve the lead.
Even with victory within reach, the Americans continued pushing forward. In stoppage time, Aaronson slipped a clever ball to Luna, whose shot was denied by Ryan. The Real Salt Lake winger had another look seconds later but dragged it just wide, the final act of a night where the U.S. attack found both creativity and confidence.
Momentum Building Toward 2026
With the result, the U.S. improved to seven straight wins in Colorado — a quietly impressive streak in a venue that has long favored the red, white, and blue. The match also marked Pochettino’s 11th win in 20 games since taking over the program, continuing a steady upward curve toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
For Wright, it was further validation of a striker in rhythm, now with seven goals in just 18 caps. For Roldan, it was a reminder of the value experience brings — two assists, tireless pressing, and leadership by example. And for the collective, it was a demonstration of resilience and adaptability under a manager increasingly willing to mix his tactics and personnel.
Pulisic’s brief but positive outing gave supporters reassurance about depth and rotation, while McKenzie, Sands, and Freeman each added valuable minutes to their international resumes.
Australia, unbeaten for more than a year before Tuesday, provided the kind of disciplined, physically demanding test the U.S. needed ahead of sterner challenges.
What’s Next
The national team’s next tests come in November, when Pochettino’s squad hosts Paraguay on November 15 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, before facing Uruguay three days later in Tampa, Florida. With the 2026 World Cup less than eight months away, both fixtures will serve as key tune-ups and roster auditions.
For now, the Americans head into the winter window unbeaten in three, improving chemistry under a new manager, and rediscovering belief in attack — thanks to a brace from a red-hot Haji Wright and a masterclass in playmaking from Cristian Roldan.
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