The United States could hardly have asked for a better start to their World Cup campaign as a Folarin Balogun brace and a stunning late strike from Gio Reyna inspired the co-hosts to a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Los Angeles on Friday.
Roared on by a star-studded crowd that included Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Paris Hilton, the Americans overwhelmed their South American opponents from the outset, racing into a three-goal lead before halftime and sealing an emphatic opening-night triumph with Reyna’s superb stoppage-time effort.
The sold-out crowd of 70,492 at SoFi Stadium witnessed a relentless US performance as the tournament co-hosts — alongside Mexico and Canada — laid down an early marker in Group D, which also features Australia and Turkey.
Paraguay briefly threatened a comeback after Brazil-born substitute Mauricio reduced the deficit in the second half, but Reyna’s exquisite finish ensured the hosts opened their campaign in style.
The only concern for the Americans was the halftime withdrawal of captain Christian Pulisic, the team’s talisman and key attacking force, whose fitness will be closely monitored as the hosts pursue their deepest World Cup run since reaching the quarter-finals in 2002.
Paraguay endured a nightmare start. Just seven minutes into the contest, Weston McKennie surged forward from midfield before linking up with Pulisic. The AC Milan star weaved between two defenders and returned the ball to McKennie, whose pass toward Balogun was inadvertently turned into his own net by defender Damian Bobadilla.
The early breakthrough ignited a wave of US attacks.
Brimming with confidence, the hosts dominated possession and carved open Paraguay repeatedly. McKennie and Malik Tillman produced audacious backheel passes into the penalty area, while veteran defender Tim Ream dictated play from the back with a series of precise long-range deliveries.
Balogun thought he had doubled the lead in the 28th minute, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. The striker, however, was not to be denied.
Three minutes later, Antonee Robinson released Pulisic down the left flank with a superb pass. Pulisic’s cross took a slight deflection before falling kindly for Balogun, who finished clinically to make it 2-0.
The Monaco forward then produced the moment of the first half on the stroke of halftime. Receiving a pass from Tillman on the right, Balogun evaded Omar Alderete, cut inside Gustavo Gomez, and curled a sublime effort into the top corner for his second goal of the night.
The scoreline could easily have been more emphatic. Chris Richards, making his return from injury, came within inches of adding a fourth before the break as the US finished the opening period with 75 percent possession.
With Pulisic no longer on the field after halftime, the Americans eased off slightly, allowing Paraguay more opportunities to venture forward.
Their reward came when Julio Enciso, playing despite a hamstring injury, collected possession on the edge of the area and slipped a pass to Mauricio, who calmly finished to pull one back.
Any hopes of a comeback, however, were extinguished in stoppage time. Reyna capped the performance with a moment of brilliance, guiding an outside-of-the-foot effort beyond the goalkeeper and inside the far post to complete a memorable 4-1 victory.
The match was preceded by a glitzy opening ceremony befitting Hollywood. Pop star Katy Perry headlined the entertainment, joined by Future, Tyla, Anitta, and K-pop sensation Lisa.
Performers danced around a giant World Cup trophy beneath towering FIFA lettering as fans celebrated the arrival of football’s biggest tournament on US soil.
President Donald Trump did not attend the opening match but reportedly wished the team luck via telephone before kickoff.
AFP
