The United States kicked off their home World Cup in style on Friday, beating Paraguay 4-1. The opening match thrilled a packed crowd in Los Angeles with a strong performance.
Folarin Balogun scored two goals while US pressure forced an early own goal from Damian Bobadilla. Gio Reyna, who came in as a substitute, added a fourth goal late in the game. This was a perfect start for coach Mauricio Pochettino’s team at the SoFi Stadium in Group D.
The US team entered the tournament with some doubts after losing several pre-World Cup friendlies. Fans were not sure how they would perform in the first round.
But any concerns were quickly put to rest with a stunning first half. The US jumped to a 3-0 lead, making it almost impossible for Paraguay to come back.
“Just a great start from the guys,” said US star Christian Pulisic after the match. “The guys came out with so much energy, just a great performance and a deserved win.
“It’s just the start of a long journey. We’ve got a lot more to do. It’s really, really great start and we should be proud but we’ve got to keep pushing and be ready for the next game.”
Pop star Katy Perry kicked off the excitement with a lively performance just before the match. Hollywood stars like Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Halle Berry were also there, cheering on the team in a crowd of 70,492.
The US players rose to the occasion, showing skill and confidence. Their performance sparked hope for a deep run in the tournament, with upcoming matches against Australia and Turkey.
The US attack came fast and strong, leading to Bobadilla’s own goal just seven minutes into the game. Balogun, who grew up in London and played for England’s youth teams before switching to the US, scored his two goals next.
The only downside for the US was letting in a goal from Brazil-born Mauricio in the 73rd minute. This came after a moment of hesitation in their defense.
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