It was a tough loss to swallow and made no easier by the decisive intervention of VAR.That’s the verdict from Aussie assistant coach Paul Okon after a horror first half left the Socceroos reeling against the United States.The Americans surged to a 2-0 lead just before half time in a controversial moment that sparked outrage on the SBS broadcast.The US had initially been denied after an off-side ruling from a chaotic free kick, but VAR overturned the decision and awarded the goal after a lengthy review.Replays showed the ball ricocheted off Jacob Italiano before Alex Freeman was judged onside, allowing the attack to continue as Williams nodded home past keeper Patrick Beach.But Okon was adamant the goal should never have stood.“From what we understood he probably impeded Beachy, but of course the VAR decided differently,” Okon said at half time.Head coach Tony Popovic echoed a similar sentiment at his post game presser.“I’m not sure on that one,” he said when asked if it was a fair call.“We felt that. But unfortunately that didn’t go out way. I think today was, I wouldn’t say the best day for the referee. We certainly felt we were strained with the referees, but overall we weren’t good enough in the first half. Second half we were. It’s a shame it took us so long to get going.”Shortly afterwards VAR again came front and centre.Connor Metcalfe was taken out as he sprinted into the penalty area as Nestory Irankunda had the ball on the edge of the six yard box.The play ended with Cristian Volpato having a free shot on goal, but his right foot whack was well off the mark.Making matters worse, there was also controversy moments later when Nestory Irankunda was bumped off chasing a long ball that bounced to the keeper well outside the box. No foul was awarded.The moments were slim pickings from a Socceroos’ performance that left much to be desired with effort savaged by Australian greats on commentary.“We’re getting dominated,” Luke Wilkshire said on SBS.Harry Kewell was even more brutal.“It’s not good enough. It feels like we’re frozen on the big stage,” Kewell said.“There’s no fluidity. We’re on the back foot. There’s no connectivity.“We look panicky on the ball. They’ve made us look terrible.”Matildas legend Lydia Williams added: “They’re absolutely destroying us.”“I think a few decisions were a bit soft, but it wasn’t the decisions of the ref that ultimately cost us the game at the end of the day,” Williams said.More to come.