'I think that the better team won': thousands celebrate U.S. World Cup win in Riverfront Park

Jun. 19—Matthew Gleeson stood out in the sea of red, white and blue-clad soccer fans who gathered in the Gesa Pavilion Friday afternoon to watch the U.S.

national team play their second match of the World Cup.Gleeson, an Australian native who holds dual U.S.

-Australian citizenship, was one of the few attendees among nearly 5,000 who were sporting a yellow-and-green jersey with "Australia" stitched down the side during the highly anticipated match between the two countries.While he considered repping jerseys from both countries, Gleeson said he's learned to "always stay with your roots.""I was born and raised in Australia, but I was very proud of how both teams performed, and, you know, I think the better team won," Gleeson said.

"And I'm honorable enough to respect and acknowledge that."The 2-0 victory sent the men's national team to the next round of the tournament, and the team could clinch the top spot in their group Friday evening with a Paraguay win or draw against Turkey. While hope is not lost for Australia, the team likely will need to win its match next week to remain alive in the tournament.

While Gleeson remains hopeful Australia will advance, too, he said it was a "privilege" to see both squads square off on Friday."A shame there wasn't a couple of goals for Australia, as well," Gleeson said. "But like I said, I'm an honest man, and I think that the better team won."

Jonathan Myers was among the U.S. fans who celebrated as the ref whistled the match over on Friday.

Myers, who was in attendance in Inglewood, California, last week as the U.S. national team opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over Paraguay, said the watch party had an "awesome setup.""

I just love that they did this, and, you know, it's fun to get all of the fans together and everyone having a little patriotism," Myers said.While the U.S.

has never won a World Cup, and has not advanced past the round of 16 since 1930, Myers said this year's squad is "totally different than the U.S. in the pas