The United States couldn’t have asked for a better start to the World Cup after beating Paraguay 4-1 in a Group D encounter in Los Angeles.
The United States is like that joined Mexicowho also started with a win, while third co-host Canada entered the tournament with a draw.
A team led by an Argentine Mauricio Pochettino she did everything in the first half by scoring three goalsin the continuation, Paraguay threatened, but the fourth goal of the home team resolved everything.
The United States scored just three goals in four games at the World Cup in Qatar four years ago, and has never scored more than three goals in a single World Cup game.
It started great for the hoststhey took the lead in the seventh minute after Damian Bobadilla’s own goal. Weston McKennie started the action and found Christian Pulisic in the penalty area, before the ball bounced off Paraguayan defender Damian Bobadilla and ended up in the net.
After half an hour of play it was already 2-0. Pulisic broke through the sidereturned the ball back to Balogun who scored for 2-0.
It is the same player at the very end of the first part also scored the third goal. Malik Tilmann sent a great ball to the Monaco striker who got rid of two guards and hit the top right corner for 3-0.
With that, he became the first American after 1930 to score two goals in the first half of a World Cup game. The last to do it was Bertrand Patenaude, who scored three goals in a 3-0 victory against Paraguay at the first World Cup.
Pulisic, who participated in the actions of the first two goals, he stayed in the dressing room during halftimeis speculated to be due to injury.
In the second half, the home team calmly held the advantage. Paraguay reduced the score in the 73rd minute with a goal by Mauricio, but all doubts about the question of the winner were resolved by Giovanni Reyna, who scored in the last moments for 4-1.
In the second meeting from this group, they meet tomorrow Australia and Turkey. The second round is scheduled for June 19, with USA – Australia and Turkey – Paraguay.
USA – PARAGUAY 4-1
LOS ANGELES. SoFi Stadium – 70,492 spectators; Referee: Makkelie (Nice);
Scorers: 1-0 Bobadilla (7-ag), 2-0 Balogun (31), 3-0 Balogun (45+4), 3-1 Mauricio (73), 4-1 (Reyna 90+7);
Yellow cards: Adams / Caceres, Almiron, G. Gomez, Arce, Alonso
USA: Freese – Freeman, C. Richards, Ream, A. Robinson – Tillman (from 82. Reyna), Adams – Dest (from 72. Weah), McKennie, Pulisic (from 46. Berhalter) – Balogun (from 72. Pepi)
PARAGUAY: Gill – Caceres (from 79. Velazquez), Alonso, Alderete, G. Gomez – D. Gomez (from 79. Romero), Bobadilla (from 46. Mauricio), Cubas, Almiron (from 79. Sosa) – Sanabria (from 62. Arce), Enciso
(China | Photo: FIFA WC)
