USA opens World Cup campaign with historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay

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Farewell all!

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Day 2 done and dusted.

An entertaining day of football, with some incredible goals and a massive statement from hosts the USA.

Make sure to come back in just over 24 hours, the Socceroos kick off their World Cup campaign.

Farewell for now and see you tomorrow.

Match report: US up and running with historic 4-1 win over Paraguay

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Folarin Balogun scored twice in the Americans' historic three-goal first half as the US opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with its biggest win in the tournament, a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay.

Christian Pulisic had an assist in a stellar first-half playmaking performance for the Americans, who enthralled their Southern California fans with an aggressive attack while streaking to a 3-0 halftime lead — the team's largest in any World Cup game.

Gio Reyna ripped another goal in the dying moments of second-half injury time, giving the Americans four goals in a World Cup match for the first time.

The US scored only three goals combined in its four matches at the Qatar World Cup four years ago, and it had never scored more than three in a World Cup match.

But the Americans were a team transformed while playing in new coach Mauricio Pochettino's more creative system in front of a passionate, star-studded Los Angeles crowd of 70,492.

Maurício scored in the second half for Paraguay, but La Albirroja fell too far behind early in their first World Cup match in 16 years.

AP

FT: USA run rampant in 4-1 win over Paraguay

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Dominant from start to finish.

Minus the opening five minutes of the game where Paraguay looked dangerous.

The USA showed up and showed out, not fazed by the pressure of being the host and the expectations.

Interested to know where Paraguay go from here, that -3 goal difference could be a real problem if they want to make it out of the group.

90'+ 7 GOAL USA

P By Pokuah Frimpong

WHAT A GOAL!!

Gio Reyna, with maybe the goal of the match, uses the outside of his boot to curl his shot right into the back of the net.

It's the first time the USA have scored four at the World Cup and what a way to close out your opening group game.

7 minutes added on

P By Pokuah Frimpong

88' Missed chance Pepi

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Weston McKennie, as he's done all game, keeps creating chances. He finds Ricardo Pepi in the middle of the box but Pepi can't keep his shot down and skies it over the bar.

87' Alex Arce yellow card

P By Pokuah Frimpong

substitutions

P By Pokuah Frimpong

USA

OFF:

Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Malik Tilman

ON:

Timothy Weah, Sergino Dest, Giovanni Reyna

Paraguay:

OFF:

Miguel Almiron, Juan Caceres, Diego Gomez, Antonio Sanabria

ON:

Alex Arce, Gustavo Velázquez, Ramón Sosa, Alejandro Romero

74' USA chance

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Just as Paraguay get their goal the USA waltz up the other end and almost instantly restores their three-goal buffer.

First, through Malik Tillman, who would want that chance back, a direct shot on goal, and he manages to hit it straight at the keeper.

72' GOAL PARAGUAY

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Substitute Marucio slots it beautifully inside the far post to keep the hope alive for Paraguay.

Long ball played forward with Paraguay able to win the first ball, Almiron able to lay it into the path off Enciso, who sees Marucio all by himself on the left-hand side who slots it into the net.

Spot the celeb

A By Amanda Shalala

It’s been quite entertaining gauging everyone’s reaction here in Dallas to the various celebrities that have been flashed on the big screen.

Here’s the summary:

George Lucas — indifference

Bill Gates — boos

Gianni Infantino — louder boos

Rob Lowe — indifference

Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau — they took time to think about it but settled on boos

Tom Cruise/David Beckham — mixture of jeers and cheers

Paris Hilton — murmurs

Hope you enjoyed this ABC/TMZ update!

67' Ads! Ads! Ads!

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Time for the obligatory third-quarter break, sorry, hydration break.

61' Paraguay substitution

P By Pokuah Frimpong

OFF: Antonio Sanabria

ON: Alex Arce

60' Tillman denied

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Big challenge from Gustavo Gomez clatters into Malik Tillman just as he gets his shot away.

Some faint shouts of penalty, but the referee waves those claims away.

USA is continuing to build pressure.

56' USA chance

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Well worked from the USA to find Robinson on the left-hand side. His cross is slightly too deep, before the eventual shot is deflected away.

50' VAR check mistaken identity

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Referee Danny Makkelie sent to the VAR screen rescinds yellow card for Tim Ream and gives one to Miguel Almirón for simulation.

48' Chance Paraguay

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Diego Gomez with an excellent run on the right side … shot deflected away for Paraguay's first corner.

Paraguay works the corner to the left before the USA eventually clears the danger.

Paraguay have started with more intensity in the second half.

Celebrating every goal as if it’s the first

A By Amanda Shalala

And I would be too, Dallas fans aren’t losing any of their enthusiasm as the goals keep coming.

46' Half time subs

P By Pokuah Frimpong

USA:

Christian Pulisic off Sebastian Berhalter on

Paraguay:

Damián Bobadilla off Maurício on