INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Simply put, the U.S. men’s soccer team’s World Cup got off to a dream start.
Folarin Balogun’s goals and Christian Pulisic’s playmaking led the Americans to a 4-1 win over Paraguay in their tournament opener, the highest-scoring performance ever by the U.S. men in a World Cup.
The crowd of 70,492 played a role too, belting out out the national anthem along with celebrity singers Dan + Shay and chanting “USA!” throughout the game.
With that as fuel, the U.S. needed just seven minutes to get on the scoreboard.
Weston McKennie created the opener in tandem with Pulisic. McKennie drove hard up the middle, including a cutback between two Paraguayan players, then fed Pulisic on the left. The Hershey, Pa., native uncorked a dazzling split of two players and a slip past a third, with the latter move sending the ball to McKennie. He aimed to lay it off for Balogun, but Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla did the job instead by deflecting the ball into his own net.
It could have been 2-0 in the 28th, but Pulisic was offside in the buildup, and Balogun was off at the end. But the real thing arrived three minutes later, and this time, it was a no-doubter.
Pulisic was front and center again, seizing a sharp through ball from Antonee Robinson and charging up the left flank. The centering pass was on the money for a charging Balogun, who held up behind Paraguay’s back line and easily slotted home.
The crowd erupted again, a real roar despite FIFA’s price-gouged tickets that have kept so many soccer fans out of World Cup stadiums. There were pockets of empty seats, especially in the most expensive sections, another indictment of the governing body.
But the fans who were here, for all they paid, delivered. From the anthem to thunderous “USA!” chants, they showed up in a way the U.S. team often hasn’t felt — especially in Southern California. One need only think back to last year’s Concacaf Nations League final four in this same stadium, when indifference and unhelpful kickoff times left the Americans drowned out.
The U.S. lost both of those games. Now, in their first of two group games here, they were rolling — and not done scoring yet.
In the last minute of first-half stoppage time, Antonee Robinson corralled a loose ball in his own half. He gave it to Tim Ream, who had no pressure on him and took his time before passing to Tyler Adams. Paraguay again did not press, so Adams offered the ball to Malik Tillman. He turned, took one touch, then zinged a low pass through four Paraguayan players.
Balogun saw it coming even before Tillman had fully turned and was off to the races. He was past Paraguayan centerback Omar Alderete — of English Premier League club Sunderland — and stayed on his feet as Alderete tried to slide at him. He then cut left past a spinning Gustavo Gómez and slammed a shot into the top corner.
The goal made Balogun the first U.S. men’s player to score multiple goals in a World Cup game since Bert Patenaude at the first ever World Cup in 1930, coincidentally also against Paraguay. And the half was the highest-scoring by a U.S. men’s team since the famed 3-2 win over Portugal in 2002.
The second half started with a shock: Pulisic was subbed out. Sebastian Berhalter replaced him and went to a deeper central midfield spot, which sent Tillman up to Pulisic’s spot.
“I just got a bit of a kick in the first half,” Pulisic said postgame. “Back of my leg, sort of my calf area. Staying positive. I don’t think it’s anything.”
A U.S. Soccer spokesperson said manager Mauricio Pochettino would address the matter postgame.
Ream and Adams drew yellow cards early in the second half, though Ream’s was canceled. The Adams booking was especially significant, given the roster’s lack of central midfield depth.
Adams must now avoid cards through the second group-stage game, against Australia next Friday in Seattle (3 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62), to avoid being suspended for the crucial group-stage finale against Turkey on June 25.
With 25 minutes to go, the joy of the first half was replaced by nerves. Even though the U.S. was up, 3-0, Pulisic’s departure and Adams’ yellow put the building on edge.
Pochettino made two more substitutions in the 72nd, Tim Weah for Sergiño Dest and Ricardo Pepi for Balogun, but Adams stayed in.
Seconds later, Paraguay scored far too easily. Goalkeeper Orlando Gill sent a long ball forward, Miguel Almirón knocked it down to Julio Enciso, and he fed Maurício for an open shot.
The crowd could tell the vibes were changing and tried to stir the home team with another loud “USA!” chant. Weah shot high, and Tillman shot straight at Gill.
Gio Reyna was the last substitute, replacing Tillman in the 82nd.
There were seven minutes of stoppage time to endure at the end — and quite a few hard hits from Paraguayan players.
But the Americans endured and even earned one of the sport’s most famous compliments. As they ran out the clock in stoppage time, the crowd chanted “Olé!” as they passed the ball around the field.
In the final seconds, Reyna gave them an electric parting gift. A long passing sequence finished at his feet just outside the 18-yard box, and he stepped up unmarked to smash in the finale.
