How Alex Freeman became a USMNT mainstay — and World Cup hero

SEATTLE — Alex Freeman spent a few anxious seconds waiting to learn whether the biggest goal of his life would count. By the time video review confirmed the U.S.

defender had been onside, his United States teammates were already sprinting toward him.Freeman's first World Cup goal ended up being the capper on the United States men's national team's 2-0 victory over Australia on Friday. The victory secured a berth in the Round of 32 for the U.

S.Initially, Freeman — who followed through with the header after Sergiño Dest's shot was blocked by an Australian defender — was called offsides. But review determined Freeman had been onside when Dest made the shot, making it a good goal.

That's when Freeman and the USMNT reserves ran over to the opposite side of the field, celebrating the young U.S. defender's goal."

I was going to run to the side, and Cristian [Roldan] and some of the boys were like, 'No, no, come to this side, to this side,'" Freeman said of the celebration. "And when [the goal] got accepted I turned back and they were all running at me, I was like, 'I'm gonna run to the other corner flag.'""He was already kind of near us, so we're just kind of telling him, 'come, come, come, come, come,'" Auston Trusty confirmed to reporters after the game.

In many ways, Freeman was an unlikely hero. The United States’ first goal was officially credited as an own goal by Australian defender Cameron Burgess after a dangerous run and cross from Folarin Balogun, leaving the 21-year-old defender as the only American credited with a goal in the 2-0 victory.Freeman is a relative newcomer to the U.

S. squad: Friday was just his 19th cap, with the 21-year-old defender only a year or so removed from his first senior call-up. He started his career with the Orlando City academy, debuting for the senior team in 2022 at age 17, but completed a $7 million transfer to La Liga side Villarreal in January.

And at the same time, Freeman has become a key piece of the U.S. back line in a short amoun