The USMNT Advances To World Cup Round Of 16
It was a game with everything on the line; USA vs. Iran, a spot in the World Cup Round of 16 on the line. In order to advance, the task was taller for the US than it was for their counterparts, though. Iran, having already defeated Wales 2-0 in their 2nd game of the group stage, only needed a tie to go through to the knockout stages, while the US needed a victory or they would be on a plane home. Well, I think we all already know that the boys in blue delivered. It wasn’t the most comfortable margin of victory, but 1-0 was the only result that was needed, and it was indeed the result they got. The lone goal came in the first half in the 38th minute, and it came off the foot of Christian Pulisic, and at the cost of him. After a beautiful chip in to Segino Dest on the edge of the Iran box, Dest immediately popped a header across the face of the goal where a streaking Pulisic hammered the ball into the back of the net… but did not celebrate. He stayed down for a matter of minutes after colliding with Iran’s goalie and taking the shot in a spot that no man ever wants to be hit. He went off at halftime, and was replaced by former Philadelphia Union member Brenden Aaronson.
The job had been done, and Pulisic’s teammates defended like mad to make sure the 1-0 result held, but the injury raised concerns about the team’s ability in the Round of 16. To make matters a little more nerve-creating, Josh Sargent, who played an outstanding game at striker in the USMNT’s match with Iran on both sides of the pitch, went down with a scary ankle injury in the 2nd half. Pulisic posted on social media after the game that he would be ready for Saturday, and was later diagnosed with a pelvic contusion (ouch), but no word yet on Sargent’s status. Either way, the USA left it all out on the field on Tuesday afternoon, and will now head to the knockout stages against Netherlands at 10am EST on Saturday morning. Get your day drinking pants on America, it’s about to be one heck of a weekend.
Believe it or not, we’re not yet in uncharted waters for USA Soccer. Despite failing to qualify for the World Cup in 2018, the USMNT has advanced to the Round of 16 for the 3rd straight time in their World Cup appearances. Unfortunately, though, they have failed to advance the past two times, falling to Ghana by a score of 2-1 in South Africa in 2010, and 2-1 in Brazil to Belgium in 2014. It will be a tall task to reverse that trend Saturday morning, as they take on the world’s #8 ranked team in The Netherlands, but not totally impossible. USA themselves are 16th in the current world rankings, and The Netherlands have not exactly been in form so far in this World Cup. Sure, they won group A, but they also drew with Ecuador on the way to that group win, who are currently the 44th best team in the world rankings, 24 spots lower than Iran. Will the US be underdogs? Absolutely, but hey, we know how fast that can go out the window. Get geared up for Saturday everyone, this run isn’t done quite yet.
