USA's World Cup dreams began today, June 12, in Los Angeles as they faced off against Paraguay. Paraguay is ranked 40th in the FIFA rankings, while the United States is ranked 17th.
If Team USA learned anything from Team Canada today, it was, "Don't sleep on your opponent."
In the first half, Team USA answered Tom Brady's question, "If it's in you?" with a resounding, "It is!" Because when that final whistle blew tonight, the 13 stripes and 50 stars stood high above Los Angeles Stadium.
The pitch was USA's from the get-go, with an own goal in the first few minutes of the game. The own goal was America's third-fastest goal in team history.
Paraguay stepped up its physical play to try to frustrate Team USA, but it might have backfired as Paraguay defender Juan José Cáceres received a yellow card in the first 10 minutes.
After getting a goal called back just minutes earlier, USA's Folarin Balogun scored the second goal for Team USA!
And just before the half, Balogun went upper 90 for his second goal and the team's third of the night.
At the half, USA's play was as close to perfection as they could get as they headed into the locker room with a 3-0 lead.
The second half for the US should not have been about just managing the game, as Paraguay stepped up the pressure on Team USA with its offense. But Paraguay's momentum shifted when Miguel Almirón got a yellow card, resulting in the team's second yellow card of the match.
Team USA's Tyler Adams got a yellow card in the 58th minute of the game.
In the 72nd minute, Paraguay's Maurício Magalhães Prado scored their first goal of the game.
The goal gave Paraguay a short burst of momentum, but then Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla got another yellow card, and the momentum swung back to the US in the 79th minute of the game. But that would not be their last yellow card, as Paraguay's Álex Arce and Júnior Alonso both picked one up as well.
The game ended on a high note with a Giovanni Reyna goal, giving the US a 4-1 lead! It gave the US the most goals they have ever scored in a World Cup game!
The road to World Cup glory is still long, but on this night, the Stars and Stripes looked ready for the journey.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tom Cruise, David Beckham, Halle Berry, Rob Lowe and Paris Hilton are among the famous faces at the stadium ahead of the Americans’ opening World Cup match.
Source: News Channel 9
--Agencies
