Folarin Balogun had the first attempt in the United States’ lively start, but a deflection took the sting out of his shot and made it comfortable for Orlando Gill in the Paraguay goal.
Yet, it was a decisive intervention from a defender on the next USMNT attack that gave the co-hosts the lead inside eight minutes. Christian Pulisic burst through defenders and into the area on the left, before his square ball was helped on by Weston McKennie and diverted into his own net by Damian Bobadilla.
Pulisic and McKennie were at the heart of the Americans’ best work coming forward as they continued to threaten, while at the other end, a deflected effort from Julio Enciso was the best Paraguay offered.
The ball was in the Paraguay net again in the 28th minute, but Balogun’s finish was ruled out for offside against Pulisic in the build-up. However, the Monaco forward would only have to wait three more minutes to celebrate for real, as Pulisic chased a ball down the wing and pulled it back for Balogun to side-foot home.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side continued to push, and soon Gill was scrambling across his goal when a Chris Richards header from a corner went inches wide, before he thwarted a close-range Malik Tillman shot.
With the last action of the half, the USA rounded off a perfect 45 minutes when Balogun ran onto Tillman’s through ball, cut inside two defenders and curled the ball into the top corner to send the USA into half-time with a three-goal lead for the first time ever at a FWC.
The joint-lowest goals per game average of any team to make it to North America suggested a dramatic turnaround was beyond Paraguay, whose cause wasn’t helped by Miguel Almiron and Diego Gomez strikes being blocked by teammates.
Momentum swinging back the USA’s way was met with shouts for a penalty being waved away 10 minutes into the second period when Balogun went down, before Tillman stabbed a chance wide.
Yet, the 2010 quarter-finalists wouldn’t give in, and though Gomez should have done better with his drive following Enciso’s positive run, Paraguay got on the board 17 minutes from time when Enciso linked up with Almiron before sliding the ball across for half-time sub Mauricio to guide past Matt Freese for a maiden senior international goal.
Gill did keep out goal-bound shots from Tillman and the newly-introduced Timothy Weah, but as they did in the first half, the USA added another deep in added time, as Giovanni Reyna used the outside of his foot to guide the ball outside Gill’s reach after a brilliant 26-pass team move.
It’s the first time The Stars and Stripes have scored four in a FWC match, marking their biggest win in the competition, overtaking their 3-0 win over Paraguay in both sides’ bows in 1930. For Gustavo Alfaro’s side, it’s four H2H losses in a row against the States.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Folarin Balogun (USA)