US dominate once again to beat Australiapublished at 10:06 BST
10:06 BST
USA 2-0 Australia
Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Another win for the US and another dominant performance that impressed.
Whether the rivalry between the United States and Australia is genuine or just a media fabrication, it was clear that the hosts were fired up from the start in Seattle.
While their opening-game victory against Paraguay was impressive, this was arguably the first time in Pochettino’s tenure the US looked a team entirely in his image.
After twice losing possession in their own third during a nervy opening few minutes, the tournament co-hosts set about relentlessly pressing Australia high up the pitch.
Their early goal put Australia on the backfoot, and means they are the first World Cup hosts since France in 1938 to score in the first 15 minutes in each of their first two matches of the tournament.
Australia spent much of their win against Turkey without the ball, but in the first half in Seattle they hardly had time to breathe, never mind get on the ball and do something meaningful with it.
Balogun was once again a livewire up front, while midfielders Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman constantly made dangerous runs in between the Australia centre-backs and wing-backs.
The tone for this most all-American of performances was set before kick-off when the 67,000-strong crowd at Seattle Stadium belted out Star Spangled Banner with as much gusto and enthusiasm as you are likely to see this summer.
The US had not played in the state of Washington since 2016, but have now won each of their past eight games played in Seattle – and will return here in the last 16 if they win their last-32 game in Santa Clara.
Judging by the way the crowd and players fed off each other, they will be eager to come back.