Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency: The United States got off to the start they had hoped for. In their opening match of the home World Cup, they swept aside Paraguay, securing a commanding 4-1 victory.
Folarin Balogun was the hero of the hosts' victory; he scored two of their three goals, while one was an own goal.
The US took the lead just six and a half minutes into the match. Christian Pulisic dribbled past two defenders and passed to McKennie inside the penalty area; while attempting to clear the ball, Paraguay midfielder Damián Bobadilla inadvertently put it into his own net. They thought they had scored a second goal in the 28th minute. Amidst the celebrations by Balogun and his teammates, the referee blew his whistle—the 24-year-old striker had been offside when receiving the pass from Tyler Adams. However, the hosts did not have to wait long to establish a two-goal lead.
Balogun scored that second goal just three minutes later. Christian Pulisic surged forward at great speed down the left flank and cut towards the goalmouth. He passed the ball to Balogun, who was positioned on the right, and Balogun guided it into the net with a deft touch. He scored the next goal as well, this time assisted by Malik Tillman. Three goals for the US in the first half alone—those who predicted they might score another three or four in the second half were proven wrong. There were no goals scored for the first 27 minutes of the second half; the goal that did come in the 73rd minute went to Paraguay.
Orlando Gill played a long ball into the US half. Julio Enciso delivered a precise pass to Mauricio, who fired a powerful diagonal shot from the left flank into the net. This late goal merely narrowed the deficit but could not alter the match's outcome.
The United States scored their fourth goal during stoppage time. Giovanni Reyna received the ball from Freeman and took a shot immediately after entering the penalty area. Even though Gill dived, the ball eluded him and found the back of the net.