USA clinch place in World Cup knockouts with win over Australia

Co-hosts USA secured their place in the World Cup knockout stages with a 2-0 victory over Australia in Group D.

Having beaten Paraguay 4-1 in their opening game in Los Angeles, Mauricio Pochettino's side produced another commanding display in Seattle to continue their strong start to the tournament.

With FIFA using head-to-head records instead of goal difference as the primary tiebreaker in the World Cup group stage for the first time, USA are guaranteed to finish either first or second.

Folarin Balogun, scorer of two goals against Paraguay, forced the opener when Australia defender Cameron Burgess turned the striker's cut-back into his own net in the 11th minute.

Defender Alex Freeman added the second when VAR overturned an offside call against him after he had nodded Serginio Dest's deflected shot over the line following a USA corner.

Head coach Tony Popovic tried to get Australia back into the game by making a triple change at half-time but they were unable to meaningfully trouble goalkeeper Matt Freese as USA became the second team to reach the knockouts after Mexico.

11: GOAL! Burgess sends Balogun's cut-back into his own net for the opener

43: GOAL RULED OUT! The linesman flags Freeman for offside after he heads in

45: GOAL GIVEN! VAR overturns the offside decision and the goal is given

45+7: SAVE! Dest tests Patrick Beech with a low shot

52: WASTE! Balogun spurns a one-on-one chance to add a third

62: OVER! Australia's Cristian Volpato fires a good chance over after coming off the bench

65: SAVE! Connor Metcalfe, another Australia substitute, shoots too close to Freese

87: AGGRO! Three late bookings as tempers fray in closing stages