Americans stoke knockout hopes after clutch draw
AL KHOR, Qatar — Respect achieved. Wins await.
American players wanted more than a 0-0 draw with heavily favored England on Friday, likely the most-watched match of their lives. The U.S. shut out a European opponent in the World Cup for the first time since 1950 yet left the tentlike stadium in the Arabian desert knowing a win in Tuesday’s matchup with Iran — which beat Wales 2-0 Friday — is a must to reach the knockout stage.
“We dominated the game. We had the more clear-cut chances. Obviously, it sucks that we couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net,” said midfielder Weston McKennie, standing out with red, white and blue streaks in his hair. “There’s a lot of people that obviously thought we were going to get blown out.”
The British tabloid The Sun ran a headline calling the result “Yawn in the USA.” England supporters booed loudly at the final whistle and American fans
cheered.
“I guess that's a positive sign,” U.S. forward Christian Pulisic said. “Back home watching, I hope we made a lot of people proud.”
Playing before what figured to be a huge Black Friday television audience, the former Colonies remained unbeaten in three World Cup matches against Ye Olde Country, a run that includes the famous 1-0 upset at Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 1950 and the 1-1 draw at Rustenberg, South Africa, in 2010. The U.S. had conceded goals in 19 consecutive Cup matches against European opponents until Matt Turner matched Frank Borghi's clean sheet of 72 years earlier.
The U.S., using five starters from Premier League clubs, led 10-8 in shots and 7-3 in corners.
McKennie had the best U.S. chance, putting an open 9-yard attempt wide from Tim Weah's cross in the 26th minute. Seven minutes later, Pulisic bent a shot
with his weaker left foot around Kieran Trippier and Bukayo Saka, and the ball glanced off a fingertip of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and against the crossbar.
England's best opportunity came in second-half stoppage time, when Harry Kane sliced a header wide from Luke Shaw's free kick.
“Regarding changing the way the world views American soccer, we're chipping away at it, and you need games like tonight to be able to do that,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said.
At the 1998 World Cup in France, Iran upset the U.S. 2-1 to eliminate the Americans. They would advance Tuesday with a win, or with a tie if Wales fails to beat England. “All we can ask for is to have destiny in our own hands,” Turner said, “and we have that.”