USMNT player ratings: Surprise star Freeman's 7/10 performance stonewalls Australia - ESPN

An own goal and an Alex Freeman's late header in the first-half sent the U.S. men's national team to a 2-0 win on Friday against Australia in Seattle, keeping the U.S. perfect through two games at the 2026 World Cup.

Being without star winger Christian Pulisic, who missed the game through injury, left the U.S. without its most dangerous attacking threat. His absence, while felt at various moments, still didn't stop the Americans from notching another win to remain atop the Group D standings.

With the win, the U.S. is already guaranteed a spot in the round of 32 even before its final group match against Türkiye. Here's a look at how the U.S. players and coach performed against Australia.

Mauricio Pochettino, 7 --His fingerprints were all over a match that saw the Americans already having to adjust to life without Pulisic before making another adjustment to facilitate more attacks down the left. It led to the U.S. having 70% possession in the first half before switching from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2 in the second half in an approach that saw Matt Freese have a clean sheet.

GK Matt Freese, 6 — He might be tempted to have a discussion with the backline about errors leading to shots in the first two minutes because it has now been two games in a row. Beyond that? Freese went through most of the match without really being heavily tested because of how much the U.S. controlled possession.

RB Alex Freeman, 7 — It looked like his errant pass was going to lead to a potential goal for the Socceroos. From there? The Villarreal right back kept having the sort of individual moments like the sliding clearance in the box. Or the positioning he had on the deflected Sergino Dest shot that led to his header giving the U.S. a 2-0 lead. Or how