Folarin Balogun scored twice, Giovanni Reyna won it in the eighth minute of stoppage time, and the United States opened their home World Cup with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay that was considerably more nerve-shredding than Mauricio Pochettino would have wanted.
The opening seven minutes were ghastly for the hosts. Damián Bobadilla turned the ball into his own net, and for a few bewildering moments at SoFi Stadium the USA were behind in a game they had 65 per cent possession in. Pochettino's side recovered their composure quickly enough, though. Balogun levelled on 31 minutes, Christian Pulišić picking the pass that sent him through, and the Arsenal-trained striker looked every inch a player in form.
The second came just before the break, in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Malik Tillman the provider this time. Two goals in 14 minutes of first-half action had restored the order that the early own goal had briefly scrambled.
Paraguay were obdurate, disciplined, and fouled their way through proceedings at a rate of 17 fouls to America's 13. Five yellow cards told their own story. But Gustavo Alfaro's side were also clinical when their moment arrived. On 73 minutes, substitute Mauricio pulled the game level with his side's only shot on target, Julio Enciso the architect. The crowd had barely processed the equaliser before they were wondering whether the USA could find a response.
They found it deep in injury time. Reyna, on for only 17 minutes, converted after Alexander Freeman's contribution, and what had threatened to become an embarrassment for the hosts was resolved into a serviceable three points. Paraguay, who had kept themselves in the match on scant resources, an expected-goals figure of 0.51 and one corner kick, were left to rue a valiant but ultimately insufficient effort.
The statistics tell a story of American dominance with an awkward footnote. Sixteen shots to nine, 596 passes to 320, possession of 65 per cent. And yet with two minutes of normal time remaining, the score was level. Freese was barely required, making one save across 99 minutes. The backline, led by the assured Tim Ream, largely kept Paraguay at arm's length, but the concession of a goal from their own defensive midfielder in the seventh minute set an unsettled tone the home side never fully shook until Reyna settled it.
Balogun was the standout, the sort of centre-forward performance that wins opening group games when little else clicks. Two goals from 13 shots inside the box as a team, his movement and finishing carrying the burden. Pulišić lasted only until half-time but left his assist on the scoresheet. Tyler Adams did the unglamorous screening work in front of the back four, picking up the game's only yellow card for the USA in the process.
Paraguay can count themselves unfortunate in one sense: they matched up well for long stretches of the second half and their substitutes made the difference at both ends, Mauricio scoring, Enciso assisting. Almirón, for whom expectation is always high, flickered without ever taking hold. The five bookings will bring Alfaro headaches ahead of their next fixture.
As World Cup opening nights go, this was functional rather than exhilarating for the hosts. Three points is three points, and in a group alongside Australia and Türkiye, Pochettino's men will take it. The anxiety of those final fifteen minutes, though, is something they will need to address.