Photo: Kevin Barrett

A second-half goal from Folarin Balogun gave the USMNT a 2-1 victory over Paraguay at Subaru Park on Saturday night, the first USMNT match in Chester since May 2018.

Still searching for his best group ahead of next year’s World Cup, head coach Mauricio Pochettino named two Philadelphia Union alumni to his starting lineup, with Matt Freese starting in goal and Brenden Aaronson on the wing. The talented but troubled Gio Reyna made his first start under Pochettino, while Folarin Balogun started up top over Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright.

After his long absence from the team, it took Reyna less than four minutes to get on the scoresheet. Following a corner, the U.S. kept the pressure on, eventually recycling the ball to Max Arfsten on the right wing. The Columbus Crew man put an excellently weighted cross toward the penalty spot, where Reyna had found a pocket of space. He powered a good header past keeper Orlando Gil to give the Americans an early lead.

It would not last. In the tenth minute, Paraguay sent Miguel Almiron down the left wing, where he smacked a spectacular volleyed cross into the American box. With Freese stuck on his line, the ball set up nicely for Alex Arce to head home from close range, giving the substantial segment of Paraguay supporters in attendance something to celebrate.

As the first half wore on, the U.S. had more of the ball, with Reyna and Sergino Dest combining in threatening fashion down the right wing. But neither team really threatened to score again, with the midfield battle turning into a chippy foul-fest.

The Americans claimed the lead again in the 71st minute, this time through Balogun. After Paraguay turned it over outside their own box, Balogun dropped it off for Reyna, who pushed into the box and hit a dangerous cutback. The defender failed to control it, and the ball fell perfectly for Balogun to sweep home into the far corner.

Paraguay, who’d been quiet, tried to find an equalizer, forcing Freese to parry a strong effort from 35 yards out. But it was the U.S. who almost scored on the counterattack. Diego Luna squirted a ball to fellow substitute Ricardo Pepi, who had an open goal to aim at from five yards out. Pepi, though, took one touch too many, and a desperate recovery by the defender blocked his shot away.

The visitors kept the pressure on in the final ten minutes, winning a few corners, but the Americans held firm. The closest Paraguay got came in the final minute, when Arfsten nearly directed a dangerous pass into his own net.

Instead, the final drama of the match came in second-half stoppage time, when a tussle over a ball that went out of play between the two benches erupted into a melee. Despite some punches seemingly being thrown, referee Cristian Corado was happy to let things go without any red cards being showed. (It was a friendly, one supposes.)

The USMNT completes this international window against fellow World Cup qualifier Uruguay in Tampa, Fl., on Tuesday at 7 p.m. — the final match for the team before the World Cup draw on Dec. 5.

Three Points

• The Gio show. It’s been a real fall from grace for the former wunderkind, whose club and country career has derailed over the past few years. But he reminded everyone of his talent tonight, scoring early, creating the second goal, and showing off his vision and technical ability all night. Whether he’ll be able to build enough form to threaten the World Cup roster, though, remains to be seen.
• More perfect Union? With four Union alums in the squad, this rare visit to Chester for the USMNT was a reminder of the talent the club has produced over the last few years. It’s still hard to know what roles, if any, the quartet will play come next summer. Aaronson had an ineffective outing, while Trusty and McKenzie didn’t make it off the bench.
• Three at the back. As in recent friendlies, Pochettino went with three center backs, and that structure seems to work for the U.S. Max Arfsten and Sergino Dest were effective wingbacks, while the central trio held Paraguay at bay, even without regular starter Chris Richards available.

Lineups

United States Men’s National Team

Matt Freese, Sergino Dest (Alex Freeman 67′), Joe Scally (Diego Luna 68′), Cristian Roldan (Aidan Morris 75′), Gio Reyna (Timmy Tillman 75′), Tanner Tessmann, Brenden Aaronson (Sebastian Berhalter 81′), Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, Max Arfsten, Folarin Balogun (Ricardo Pepi 75′)

Unused subs: John Tolkin, Auston Trusty, Haji Wright, Jonathan Klinsmann, Mark McKenzie, Roman Celentano, Patrick Schulte

Paraguay

Orlando Gill, Juan Caceres, Junior Alonso, Diego Gomez, Miguel Almiron, Diego Gonzalez (Ramon Sosa 61′), Blas Riveros, Gustavo Gomez, Damian Bobadilla, Alex Arce (Antonio Sanabria 72′), Julio Enciso (Braian Ojeda 72′)

Unused subs: Roberto Junior Fernandez, Aldo Perez, Gustavo Velazquez, Omar Alderete, Alexis Duarte, Alan Benitez, Alejandro Romero Gamarra, Ronaldo Martinez, Matias Galarza, Agustin Sandez, Diego Leon, Lucas Romero

Scoring Summary

USA: Gio Reyna — 4′ (Max Arfsten)
PAR: Alex Arce — 10′ (Miguel Almiron)
USA: Folarin Balogun — 71′

Discipline Summary

USA: Miles Robinson — 26′
USA: Gio Reyna — 36′
PAR: Diego Gonzalez — 40′
PAR: Damian Bobadilla — 83′
USA: Cristian Roldan — 90+5′