USA 4-1 Paraguay: Bobadilla 7 o.g., Balogun 31, 45+4, Reyna 90+7; Mauricio 73
USA could hardly have asked for a better opening night. With the spotlight of a home World Cup on them, Mauricio Pochettino’s side swept aside Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles, producing an attacking display that showed both their ambition and rising stock on the international stage.
The Americans took control from the outset and were rewarded inside the opening 10 minutes. Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie combined down the right before the ball ricocheted off Paraguay midfielder Damian Bobadilla and into the net for an own goal.
But rather than relaxing after taking the lead, USA continued to push forward. Pulisic and Malik Tillman repeatedly found space between the lines. The movement of Folarin Balogun proved tough for Paraguay to cope with. The Monaco striker thought he had doubled the advantage midway through the first half but the effort was ruled out for offside.
He did not have to wait long for his first World Cup goal though. In the 31st minute, Pulisic drove forward on the left and squared across the area for Balogun, who finished confidently to make it 2-0.
The forward struck again on the stroke of half-time. Released by Tillman, Balogun surged into the penalty area and skipped past defenders before bending a precise finish into the top corner. USA went into the break in control and radiating balance and technical quality.
At the start of the second half, Pulisic was withdrawn, though it might have just been a precaution rather than an injury. Paraguay improved, becoming more compact defensively and more combative in midfield. It was far more difficult now to find spaces in their backline.
They eventually found the net in the 73rd minute. Orlando Gill loaded a freekick into the USA half and after it ping-ponged off the heads of both teams, Miguel Almiron kicked it into the path of Julio Enciso, who played a pass through for substitute Mauricio to sneak it past Matt Freese into the bottom right corner.
Once it had landed to Enciso it was worked well enough, but it was too little too late for Paraguay and 3-1 up, USA never looked like they were in danger. In stoppage time substitute Gio Reyna made sure the gloss remained on the scoreline, curling a superb effort beyond Gill with the outside of his right boot.
