USA join co-hosts Mexico in the knockout rounds, while Brazil and Morocco both won to keep their World Cup campaigns firmly on track.
USA 2-0 Australia
The United States became the second co-host nation to reach the World Cup knockout rounds, beating Australia 2-0 in Seattle with a game to spare. Cameron Burgess turned a Folarin Balogun cutback into his own net in the 11th minute, before Alex Freeman headed in Sergino Dest’s looped effort just before half-time.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side, missing the injured Christian Pulisic, controlled the contest throughout. The Americans face Turkey next on 25 June, while Australia take on Paraguay.
Brazil 3-0 Haiti
Brazil eased any opening-round concerns with a dominant 3-0 win over Haiti in Philadelphia, eliminating the Caribbean nation from contention.
Matheus Cunha scored twice after alongside a Vinicius Junior strike, with Carlo Ancelotti’s reshuffled side looking far sharper than in their stuttering draw with Morocco. The win was overshadowed slightly by an injury to Raphinha, who departed in the 40th minute.
Brazil sit level with Morocco on four points but lead on goal difference. Brazil face Scotland next, while Haiti’s tournament ends after facing Morocco in Atlanta.
Morocco 1-0 Scotland
Ismael Saibari struck after just 71 seconds, the fastest goal of the tournament so far, as Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 in Foxborough to move to four points and the brink of the knockout rounds.
The Real Madrid-linked forward, on the verge of a reported 55 million euro move to Bayern Munich, finished clinically after being played through by Brahim Diaz. Scotland could not muster a single shot on target despite their vocal travelling support.
Morocco face Haiti next on 24 June, while Scotland take on Brazil the same day in Miami.
Paraguay 1-0 Turkey
Ten-man Paraguay beat Turkey 1-0 at the World Cup on Friday, a result that kept their hopes alive and also guaranteed that co-hosts the USA win Group D.
Turkey’s defeat means they become the second team after Haiti to be eliminated from contention.
Matias Galarza scored the only goal in a game that featured the first sending off in World Cup history for a player covering their mouth during an on-field confrontation, for Miguel Almiron.
Picture: X/@FIFAWorldCup
– AFP
