No Pulisic, no problem: How USA beat Australia with this surprise coaching move

SEATTLE — The U.S. men's national team learned just ahead of Friday's game against Australia that it would be without star forward Christian Pulisic.

USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino revealed to his team Pulisic would not be playing in the pivotal game as he continued recovering from a calf injury suffered during the opener against Paraguay.

It was, without a doubt, a big blow for the USMNT. Pulisic was sensational in 45 minutes against Paraguay, setting the tone by helping force an early own goal and then assisting Folarin Balogun for his first of two goals.

Leading to the game against Australia, there was plenty of speculation over who Pochettino would select to replace Pulisic. Would it be a winger like Tim Weah or Aleandro Zendejas, or would a No. 10 like Gio Reyna get the start?

But Pochettino threw a curveball, selecting a second striker, Ricardo Pepi, to pair alongside Balogun up top.

The USMNT rarely plays with two strikers, and Pepi and Balogun went into the game having played just 187 minutes together for the USMNT.

So how did it go? Look at the stats and you may come away thinking the pairing wasn't effective. Pepi and Balogun combined for zero shots on target and just one shot total. Neither had a key pass, per Sofascore. Pepi touched the ball just 27 times in 74 minutes.

But the stats don't tell the full story. And of course, there is also the only stat that truly matters: The USMNT won 2-0, advancing to the knockout round with a game to spare in group play.

Knowing the Socceroos would utilize a back five and play defensively, Pepi and Balogun were deployed together to occupy the three Aussie central defenders.

Just 11 minutes in, the move paid off. With Pepi in the center, Balogun found space wide behind the Aussie defense and got into a dangerous position, playing a low cross Cameron Burgess turned in for an own goal.

"I want to be dangerous, I want to create opportunities," Balogun said after the game. "It might not always be myself that scores, but if I can force an error that gives us the lead, then for me it's like a goal as well."

From there, Balogun and Pepi settled into doing the dirty work — pressing Australia's back line when it had the ball, holding up play, occupying defenders and challenging for aerial balls.

Balogun credited Pochettino for his game plan, saying that he wasn't surprised to be paired up with Pepi — even if many USMNT observers were.

"[Pochettino] always has different ideas to attack," Balogun said. "To play with Pepi today wasn't a shock. It wasn't like a Plan B because [Pulisic] was out. It didn't feel like that to me, it just felt like another solution to win the game.

"Australia played a back five, so two strikers to occupy the center backs was a good idea. So I think that's credit to the boss."

The game got chippy at times, which was to be expected after the friendly between the teams in the fall did as well.

Pepi, who was starting his first World Cup game, said he was prepared for a physical battle, knowing it may not always be pleasing on the eye.

"Obviously, it was a very intense game," he said. "They were closing a lot of space in the midfield, so it was difficult to get a lot of shots on target. But at the end of the day, we gave them a hard time."

That was all Pochettino could have asked for in a game where the U.S. managed to control possession and limit Australia's chances, surviving a physical battle with three points and a place in the knockout round assured.

"Today [Pepi] and [Balogun] made an unbelievable show for the team," Pochettino said. "We are so happy with both of them."