Balogun’s brace launches USA’s home World Cup with a 4-1 win over Paraguay

The United States have made the start they wanted to a home World Cup. In front of a roaring crowd at SoFi Stadium, Mauricio Pochettino’s side ran out 4-1 winners over Paraguay, a result built on a frantic opening half and finished off late by Gio Reyna. For the co-hosts, who carried plenty of doubt into the tournament, it was the kind of statement night they badly needed.

The win sends the USA top of Group D, where Australia and Turkiye are the other two sides waiting.

Balogun’s brace settles it early

The opening goal arrived inside seven minutes. Christian Pulisic sliced through the Paraguay defence and his delivery flashed across the face of goal, glancing off Weston McKennie before Damian Bobadilla turned it into his own net under pressure. It was the third-fastest goal the USA have scored at a World Cup, and it set the tone.

From there Folarin Balogun took over. The striker doubled the lead on the half-hour, then struck again with the final kick of the first half, timing his run perfectly to make it 3-0 and leave Paraguay shellshocked at the break. The brace was a personal vindication for a forward who has carried questions about his finishing, and it gave Pochettino a cushion to manage the second half however he liked.

Paraguay rally before Reyna has the final word

Paraguay improved after the interval and pulled a goal back through Mauricio in the 73rd minute, briefly raising the prospect of a nervy finish. The USA never looked like surrendering the lead, though, and the contest was put beyond doubt deep into stoppage time when Reyna, fresh off the bench, slotted home in the 98th minute to make it 4-1.

For Reyna in particular, a goal in a home World Cup after years of injuries and frustration will mean a great deal. For Pochettino, the value was broader: a clean, controlled win that answered some of the criticism that had followed the team through a patchy build-up.

A platform to build on

One game settles nothing in a group, but the manner of this win matters. The USA pressed with intensity, took their chances, and carried a noise around SoFi that the players clearly fed off. Australia and Turkiye will both be tougher tactical puzzles than a Paraguay side that fell apart in the first half. Still, the hosts could not have asked for a cleaner opening night, and a tournament that began with questions about this team now has its first emphatic answer.

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