The Coventry City striker took charge when his national team needed him most, scoring once in each half to seal important win
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – For the first half hour of Tuesday's friendly against Australia, it was doom and gloom for the U.S. men's national team. They'd conceded a goal, and a poor one at that. Christian Pulisic, the team's captain on the day, was forced off with an injury.
Despite dominating the play, the U.S. were down a goal and a star at the half-hour mark. Mauricio Pochettino's side needed a spark. It came from Haji Wright, who brought his scoring boots from England right on over to Colorado. Given the start ahead of the prolific Folarin Balogun, Wright made the difference for the USMNT, making one hell of a statement in his first USMNT appearance since his Gold Cup injury.
Behind Wright's brace, the USMNT went on to win 2-1 on Tuesday night. Following Jordan Bos' scrappy opener, Wright took over, netting one on either side of halftime, and continuing his torrid scoring streak – he now has 11 goals in his last 11 games for club and country.
The first came as he ran onto a line-splitting pass from Cristian Roldan. The second came as he ran onto a long ball from the very same man, and that Roldan-Wright combination effectively decided the game.
“I believe in myself and the players around here make it easy," Wright said. "I’ve known these guys my whole life, almost my whole soccer career. So getting back on the field with these guys, it feels like home to me. And playing back in the U.S. feels great… I’m not just stuck in the nine as a typical striker. I’m allowed to move and be free-flowing and create chances and score chances."
Earlier this international break, Pochettino explained what he wants from his strikers: the ball in the back of the net. The rest is all a bonus, he said, and the key unit of measurement in this striker race will always be goals. On Tuesday, Wright got two of them at a crucial time, helping the USMNT turn a poor start into a banner night of momentum building.
“We conceded a goal that we should not concede," Pochettino told TNT. "I was happy the way finished the first half. We controlled the game after 20 minutes. After we conceded, we started to play more natural. It’s a new team, the first time they’ve played together, and they were thinking too much, then started to play more natural.”
Now unbeaten in three games after an up-and-down summer, the U.S. continues to move in the right direction. On this occasion, Wright was the man who made it so.
GOAL rates the USMNT's players from Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defense
Matt Freese (6/10):
Not much he could have done about the goal. Didn't have to do much outside of punching away a corner kick or two.
Tim Weah (7/10):
Played as an actual wingback this time around, and he did just fine in the role. Was dangerous, particularly in the first half, and tracked back in the moments where the USMNT needed him to.
Mark McKenzie (6/10):
Had one massive block on one of Australia's few chances. Nothing too crazy either way outside of that.
Chris Richards (5/10):
At least partially at blame for the goal, although that was certainly a team effort. Really helped set the tone of the game after, though, by adding some fight after several hard Australia fouls.
Miles Robinson (6/10):
Was beaten a few times, but also had one sequence where he tracked back to prevent a chance.
Alex Freeman (6/10):
Was more free than in past appearances, as the Orlando City star was, at a few points, the player highest up the field. His teammates didn't find a few of his better runs, but it was still good to see him offer more on that attacking side.
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James Sands (5/10):
His mishit clearance helped lead to the goal but he generally settled into the game as it went on. Still, he'll be frustrated about that one mistimed swing of his foot.
Cristian Roldan (8/10):
Was also a part of that messy Australia goal, but the Seattle Sounders star then set up Wright's two finishes. Overall, a good reminder that he brings more than vibes; he's also a pretty damn good player, too.
Getty ImagesAttack
Weston McKennie (6/10):
Played a good ball for the hockey assist on Wright's first but, otherwise, wasn't quite as good as he was against Ecuador on Friday. Still, you can see the vision with him in this free role.
Christian Pulisic (6/10):
Was far and away the USMNT's driving force during his time on the field. Unfortunately, that time was cut short due to his first-half injury.
Haji Wright (9/10):
Didn't get many opportunities, but he buried the ones that came his way. His first finish showed decisiveness. His second showed calm. Both went in, which is something we've seen a lot of from him lately with club and country.
Getty ImagesSubs & Manager
Diego Luna (7/10):
The game immediately changed once he came in and, while that wasn't all his doing, he surely played a part. Provided what he usually does: energy, creativity and nearly a goal towards the end, too.
Folarin Balogun (6/10):
A tough spot to be thrown into as he replaced a guy working toward a hat-trick. Not quite as dangerous as Wright, obviously, but his runs through Australia's defense definitely gave them some problems in the game's final 20 minutes.
Brenden Aaronson (7/10):
It looked like a big moment passed him by, but Aaronson picked out Luna for what could have been, and arguably should have been, a goal. Decent work from the Leeds midfielder.
Tanner Tessmann (6/10):
Didn't get too many touches in the midfield with the U.S. largely on the front foot.
Aidan Morris (6/10):
Didn't have much time to work, but was generally clean and involved in the heart of midfield.
Max Arfsten (N/A):
Came on late and hardly got a touch of the ball.
Mauricio Pochettino (8/10):
Got just about everything right. The Australia goal was fluky and largely down to individual mistakes but, outside of that one moment, the USMNT dominated possession and the overall flow of the game. He'll be happy, too, to see his team erase another deficit, showing some of that fight
