Australia coach criticizes referee after 2-0 loss to U.S.

Australia coach Tony Popovic said the referee did not have his best day after his team lost 2-0 to the United States on Friday in Seattle.

The Americans scored what proved to be the decisive second goal in the 43rd minute. A free kick was stopped, and Alex Freeman, the son of former NFL player Antonio Freeman, headed the ball in. The goal was initially ruled offside, but a VAR review allowed it to stand. Australia protested, saying their goalkeeper had been impeded or that there was an offside.

Tensions rose late in the match when Australia's Harry Souttar grabbed the U.S. forward Folarin Balogun in what commentators called a rear naked choke. Referee Felix Zwayer issued yellow cards to Balogun, Souttar and Australia's Jacob Italiano. Australia finished with four yellow cards and the U.S. with three.

Popovic approached Zwayer after the final whistle. The German official, 45, also cramped up near the end of the match and needed help from Balogun and Australia's Aiden O'Neill to stretch his left leg.

Popovic still credited the Americans and said his own players looked sluggish. "I don't know if it's the occasion, but we looked sluggish, heavy-legged," he said. "They won every duel, they won every second ball and when you do that, it makes it very difficult to gain any momentum. And then we conceded two soft goals."

"When you think, you know, this noise here — host nation — I think the players show how good they are in the second half, but obviously at this level, you can't give away that much in the first."

The United States improved to 2-0 and six points atop Group D. Australia has three points and sits second. Paraguay and Turkey, both winless, play later Friday. A win or draw for Paraguay would give the U.S. the group title and a favorable Round of 32 draw.