The US on Friday launched their home FIFA World Cup in emphatic fashion, thrashing Paraguay 4-1 with a perfectly scripted opening performance to delight a star-studded home crowd in Los Angeles.
Folarin Balogun scored twice while relentless US pressure led to an early Paraguay own goal from Damian Bobadilla before substitute Gio Reyna added a late fourth to cap a dream start for coach Mauricio Pochettino’s side at the SoFi Stadium in Group D.
The US entered the tournament amid a swirl of uncertainty after a series of defeats and unconvincing performances in pre-World Cup friendlies.
Photo: Reuters
However, any doubts about their ability to progress past the first round were obliterated in a dazzling first-half display which saw them roar into a 3-0 lead to all but seal victory in the opening 45 minutes.
“Amazing result,” US captain Tim Ream said. “Obviously, it’s exactly the way we wanted to start the tournament. There’s not a whole lot of words to describe the feeling.”
“You want to start the tournament off on a good foot, scoring four goals, getting three points, it sets you up for the rest of the group stage, for sure,” he said.
Pop star Katy Perry got the party started with a rousing performance just before kick-off while Hollywood royalty including Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Halle Berry were among a 70,492 crowd.
The US men rose to the occasion with a performance of flair and precision that would ignite dreams of a deep run in the tournament by the cohosts, with group games against Australia and Turkey to come.
Wave after wave of US pressure led to Bobadilla’s opening goal after just seven minutes before Balogun — who grew up in London and represented England youth teams before pledging allegiance to the US — bagged his brace.
The only blemish on the US performance was the conceding of a Paraguay goal from Brazil-born Mauricio in the 73rd minute after hesitancy in the hosts’ defense.
Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro admitted his team had been second best in every department.
“We knew it was going to be difficult and that if we weren’t ready defensively it could be painful,” Alfaro said. “They dominated tactically, technically and physically as well.”
In Friday’s other game, cohosts Canada earned the first World Cup point in its history when Cyle Larin grabbed a second-half equalizer in Toronto to make it 1-1 after Bosnia and Herzegovina had taken the lead with a close-range header from Jovo Lukic.
“It was special for me. I was ready to come and help the team. I thought the goals would come. I score when Canada needs me, and always have done,” Larin said.
Canadian film stars Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers were in the packed crowd to watch the first-ever World Cup match on Canadian soil.
However, former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau skipped the game in favor of the US opener in Los Angeles — where his girlfriend Katy Perry was performing.
Off the pitch, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial in Britain on rape charges, has been denied a visa to enter Canada.
FIFA said Partey “will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.”
The 32-year-old would be eligible to play in Ghana’s subsequent Group L games against England and Croatia, both taking place in the US.
US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have created problems for nationals from certain countries.
Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US despite having a valid visa. US authorities have refused visas to some members of the Iran team’s support staff as well as Senegalese and Ivory Coast fans.
Friday’s games in Los Angeles and Toronto were the precursor to a packed slate of World Cup fixtures yesterday, with eight teams in action.
Five-time world champions Brazil are launching their bid for a sixth title today Taipei time with a testing game against Morocco in East Rutherford in Group C while Scotland make their long-awaited return to World Cup football against Haiti.
Australia are to take on Turkey in Vancouver while Qatar play Switzerland in Santa Clara, California.
England’s World Cup preparations have been hit by the theft of equipment ahead of the squad’s arrival at their Kansas City training base yesterday.
Balls and boots are reportedly among items stolen after vehicles transferring equipment to the team’s Swope Soccer Village base were broken into, the BBC reported.
The English Football Association confirmed to Britain’s Press Association that an incident had occurred, but was unable to provide further information given it was now a police matter.
The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department told the Daily Mail: “We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening. The investigation is ongoing.”
The BBC said it was understood that two arrests have been made in connection with the episode.
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