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  "path": "/sport/football/referee-world-cup-cramp-united-states-australia",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-19T23:05:31.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Premier League fixtures in full as Coventry and Hull handed tough starts to new season",
    "Former Masters champion suffers horror show at US Open taking three shots to get out of bunker",
    "Gary Neville forced to deny agenda against England star after World Cup win over Croatia",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nExperienced referee Felix Zwayer went down injured with a cramp in stoppage time of the USA's win over Australia in Seattle.\n\nThe 45-year-old needed assistance from the United States' Florian Balogun and Australia's Aiden O'Neill, who stretched out the official's left leg after he fell to the turf.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe referee required an energy gel to see out the last few minutes, which was rushed over to him by fourth official Katia Garcia.\n\nZwayer got back to his feet and saw out the rest of the contest, which the US won 2-0, moving them to the brink of the knockout stages.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nBBC co-commentator Danny Murphy joked: \"He needs the bucket and sponge.\"\n\nThe German referee dished out several yellow cards in a dominating performance by the United States.\n\nTemperatures in Seattle reached 26C, with players needing the hydration breaks for the noon-time game.\n\nAn own goal by Australia's Cameron Burgess got proceedings on the right track for the United States, created by a brilliant move from Floarian Balogun.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n### LATEST SPORTS NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * Premier League fixtures in full as Coventry and Hull handed tough starts to new season\n  * Former Masters champion suffers horror show at US Open taking three shots to get out of bunker\n  * Gary Neville forced to deny agenda against England star after World Cup win over Croatia\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAlex Freeman headed home a second before half-time, who now only need a point from their final game to go through top of Group D.\n\nThe US won their opening game with a thumping 4-1 victory over Paraguay and continued their form against the Socceroos.\n\nEven without starman Christian Pulisic, who missed out with a calf injury, Mauricio Pochettino's side were by far the better side throughout.\n\nPatrick Beach stood no chance with both US goals, having been the hero in Australia's first match.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nShould Turkey fail to beat Paraguay, the co-hosts will top the group regardless of their result in the final match.\n\nAustralia needs just a point against Paraguay to ensure they qualify for the last 32.\n\nPochettino spoke positively of his players finding a way past the Socceroos without Pulisic.\n\nHe said: \"If we want to win the competition, we need the whole team. And all the players need to be important.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nFreeman, who scored his third goal for his national team, was over the moon to get himself on the scoresheet.\n\nThe full back said: \"It was surreal... obviously at first it was disallowed, so I was kind of anxious when it went to VAR. It was so emotional for me because you dream of this moment.\"\n\nHe praised how his side dealt with missing their starman, saying: \"It says that we have a really strong roster, and it says that whichever players we're going to put on the field, we're going to execute and be 100 per cent and get a result.\n\n\"Christian is such a vital part of this team, but if he's not available, someone else is going to have to step in.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Referee goes down injured with cramp at World Cup - 'He needs the bucket and sponge'"
}