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Folarin Balogun struck twice and Gio Reyna dazzled late as the USA thrashed Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles, recording their biggest-ever win at a FIFA World Cup.
The USA announced themselves at the World Cup with a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay, powered by a brilliant Folarin Balogun brace (AP)
The United States could hardly have scripted a better start to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.
Roared on by a packed crowd in Los Angeles, Mauricio Pochettino’s side produced an emphatic 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Saturday.
The result also marked the first time in U.S. men’s national team history that they had scored four goals in a World Cup match.
While the final scoreline grabbed the headlines, much of the credit belonged to Folarin Balogun, who spearheaded the attack with a clinical two-goal display.
The hosts were handed an early gift just seven minutes into the contest when Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla endured a nightmare moment, turning the ball into his own net to give the Americans a dream start.
From that point onward, the momentum rarely shifted.
The USA pressed aggressively, moved the ball with confidence and repeatedly forced Paraguay onto the back foot. Balogun doubled the lead in the 31st minute after a slick attacking move before adding his second shortly afterwards to make it 3-0.
Paraguay simply had no answer to the pace, movement and intensity of the American front line.
Pochettino’s side looked sharper in every department, with their high-energy pressing and quick transitions creating problems throughout the evening. Every time Paraguay attempted to build momentum, the hosts found another way to disrupt them.
To their credit, the South Americans continued pushing forward and eventually found a breakthrough in the 73rd minute when Mauricio Prado pulled one back. However, the goal proved little more than a consolation as the outcome had long been decided.
There was still time for one final flourish.
Deep into stoppage time, Gio Reyna produced the moment of the night. Picking up possession on the edge of the box, the midfielder unleashed a stunning right-footed trivela that curled beyond a diving goalkeeper and nestled into the far corner.
The spectacular strike sealed a historic 4-1 victory and capped a near-perfect opening night for the hosts.
About the Author
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His…Read More
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