The FIFA World Cup Matchday 9 started to give us the picture of what comes after the group stage.
Two of the three hosts (Mexico and the USA) qualified for the Round of 32. And Haiti became the first nation to be officially eliminated from the tournament.
USA 2 – 0 Australia
The Americans got started early with their pressure, taking the game to Australia with pace. Australia, playing in the same low block that had given them the defensive structure to beat Türkiye, had to endure waves of early attacks.
It did not work as it had before, as the United States got the opening goal in the 11th minute.
Folarin Balogun did brilliantly in his run, getting up the left of the pitch to put the dangerous cross in from the byline. The cross was for Ricardo Pepi, but it never made it, instead being put into the net by Australia’s Cameron Burgess for the own goal.
It was all Australia could do throughout the first half to hold on as the Americans swarmed them at every opportunity. The intensity of the United States’ press was relentless and a constant source of concern for the Aussies.
The Americans added a second in the 44th minute. The initial shot from outside the box was blocked, but it was pounced on by Alex Freeman, who popped up and headed it in, giving the United States the two-goal lead heading into the break.
Australia made three changes to begin the second half, but in doing so, did not change their shape. They still played with five at the back, overly defensive, which suggested they were playing to hold as low a goal deficit as they could and then play for the third and final group-stage match, rather than fight in this one.
However, the added stability did benefit Australia going forward. Through midfielders Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda, the Aussie had the better chances in the early part of the second half.
Still, it was too little, too late for the Aussies to mount any real fightback. The Americans were content to hold onto the 2-0 win and the dominant lead in Group D.
Scotland 0 – 1 Morocco
Morocco started this match with the fastest goal in this World Cup to date.
Ismael Saibari received an excellent through ball from Brahim Díaz, giving him the perfect opportunity. His shot from just inside the 18-yard box on the right put Morocco up by one in the 2nd minute.
Scotland was forced to absorb pressure throughout the half as Morocco, as expected, dominated possession. The Scots struggled to make any headway, trying to move the ball through Scott McTominay or John McGinn in midfield, but Morocco was able to regain possession quite easily.
Morocco picked up in the second half exactly where they left off, holding possession, slowing down the play and being selective over their runs forward.
The African nation was content to hold onto its one-goal lead as Scotland was unable to find anything with the limited possession they did have.
However, Scotland grew with confidence as the half continued. Morocco’s possession-based system brought little in attack as they did not look to attack the box.
Scotland did look the more positive side, particularly in the final 15 minutes, but Morocco did not offer many chances to exploit.
The goal after 70 seconds would stand as the only one, leaving Morocco with a dominant position in Group C after two matches.
Brazil 3 – 0 Haiti
Brazil started positively and with something to prove after the lacklustre display in their first match.
They thought they opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Raphinha carried the right down the right side of the pitch and unleashed a hard shot past the Haitian keeper, Johny Placide, but it was deemed to be offside in the build-up.
The South American nation was controlling the tempo of the game, pushing forward with numbers and moving the ball well, particularly through their wide men of Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior.
However, Haiti defended well. They maintained their shape, refusing to allow Brazil to stretch them out.
But it was not sustainable. Vini Jr. took on multiple defenders as he entered the 18-yard box with positivity and shot.
It was saved by Placide. A Haitian defender tried to clear the rebound, but it bounced off Matheus Cunha and into the net, giving Brazil the lead in the 23rd minute.
Cunha added a second goal in the 36th minute. Vini Jr. found the Brazilian striker running across him on a diagonal and laid the ball in his path.
The striker took the shot while falling, but with enough power to put it into the roof of the net.
A third was added in stoppage time of the first half. Vini Jr. received a quality ball from Lucas Paquetá over the Haitian defensive line, unlocking the winger as he was all alone on Placide.
Haiti’s best chance came in the 63rd minute. Ricardo Adé got high on a corner and won the header, which got past Alisson, but was cleared off the line by a Brazilian defender.
The second half saw no changes. Haiti did well to generate a few chances, but they were simply up against a better opponent.
Paraguay 1 – 0 Türkiye
Paraguay and Türkiye were the first match that had two teams with full knowledge of the so-called “dark arts.” And both used them to their fullest effect.
Paraguay got off to a surprise lead in the 2nd minute. Matías Galarza scored with the first attempt on target in the entire game.
Galarza’s shot was from about 25 yards out and came off the end of some quality passing that eventually got to him in the centre of the park.
But that was all Paraguay managed in the first half going forward. Türkiye massively dominated possession, shot and touches inside the box.
Paraguay did well to keep Türkiye to low-xG attempts, but increasingly, the South American nation found itself under relentless pressure.
Late in the half, Miguel Almirón was sent off on a straight red card for covering his mouth to speak during a confrontation.
But Türkiye had little time to make anything of the player advantage and would have to wait until the second half.
Türkiye pushed and controlled the game in the midfield, but still found trouble attacking forward spaces. Paraguay continually packed their box, playing desperately to hold onto their slim lead with a man down.
Türkiye had wave after wave sent forward, but Paraguay stayed alive with every onslaught. Paraguay was quick to hit the deck when it worked in their favour, eating up any minutes they could get away with.
There was nothing more Türkiye could do. Paraguay’s goal in the second minute was enough to eliminate the UEFA nation, joining them with Haiti as the first two nations out of the World Cup.
Up next
Tomorrow starts with the Netherlands playing Sweden followed by Germany and Côte d’Ivoire. Ecuador takes on Curaçao. The day finished with Japan and Tunisia.
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