The wait was long, the expectation enormous, and the delivery emphatic. In the first World Cup match played on American soil in over three decades, the United States tore into Paraguay with a ferocity and fluency that few saw coming, running out 4-1 winners at a packed Los Angeles Stadium.
Mauricio Pochettino had spoken in the buildup about playing with joy. His players responded with a first half of football that felt almost surreal in its authority. From the opening whistle, the US pressed high, moved the ball with pace, and refused to let Paraguay settle. The reward came inside seven minutes, when Weston McKennie drove forward and saw his shot deflect off Damian Bobadilla and past goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
What followed was even more impressive. Rather than retreating into their shell, the US kept pushing. Christian Pulisic, playing with the swagger of a man who has spent a season as one of Europe's elite, was the architect. In the 31st minute, his cross found Folarin Balogun, who slotted home with the composure of a striker who has been waiting for this stage his entire career. Balogun's second, on the stroke of half-time, was even better: collecting a ball from Malik Tillman, he bamboozled Gustavo Gomez and rifled a shot into the top corner that Gill could only watch.
By half-time, the contest was effectively over. The 70,492 inside the stadium had witnessed what the Guardian described as the best half of football under Pochettino. Balogun's double made him the first American to score twice in a World Cup match since the inaugural tournament in 1930.
Pulisic did not reappear after the break, replaced by Sebastian Berhalter in a move Pochettino later described as precautionary. Paraguay improved in the second half, pulling a goal back in the 73rd minute through substitute Mauricio after neat work from Miguel Almiron and Julio Enciso. It was a reminder that this US team still has defensive vulnerabilities to address before facing Australia and Turkey.
But those concerns were shelved in the 98th minute, when Gio Reyna, a late substitute, collected the ball on the edge of the area and bent an outrageous finish beyond Gill with the outside of his boot. It was a goal that sealed the statement: this US team, long labelled a golden generation, finally has a golden moment to match.
The US face Australia next in Seattle on June 19, before concluding Group D against Turkey back in Los Angeles on June 25. On this evidence, the co-hosts are not merely participating. They are contenders.
