CHESTER, Pa. (AP) – Gio Reyna scored more goals than his father in his career in his first international start in 16 months, setting up Folarin Balogun’s equalizing goal in the 71st minute to give the United States a 2-1 lead over Paraguay in a friendly between the World Cup teams that sparked a second-half brawl Saturday night.
American defender Alex Freeman and Paraguay captain Diego Gomez tried to pick up the ball as it rolled in second-half stoppage time, but both sides of the bench joined in and started the scrap. Paraguay’s Omar Alderete, who did not play in the match, was given a red card and American midfielder Cristian Roldan was given a yellow card.
Playing two days after his 23rd birthday, Reina often gets injured It was his first goal for club or national team since September 14th, and his second time since March 1st.
Alex Arce exploited a gap in the defense to equalize in the 10th minute.
Diego Luna forced a turnover four minutes after coming on, which led to the winning goal. Juan Caceres tried to get the ball back and flicked it to Balogun, who dished to Reina. The midfielder took a touch and centered the ball, which was deflected by Damian Bobadilla, who scored his eighth goal, his third in the fourth game, from seven yards.
Max Aasten recorded his 2025 team-high fifth assist and the U.S. extended its undefeated streak to four.
U.S. players have less time to make an impression on coach Mauricio Pochettino. After the 16th-ranked United States takes on 15th-ranked Uruguay on Tuesday, the United States is scheduled to play two more friendlies in March before Pochettino announces his World Cup squad.
Reyna had not played on the field for the United States since the 2024 Copa America. After Sergiño Dest and Roldan blocked Alfsten’s corner kick, Alfsten sent a cross to Reina, whose header from eight yards hit goalkeeper Orlando Gil’s outstretched left fingertips and hit the crossbar. Reyna had never scored a headed goal as a professional before.
Reyna has played in 33 international games and has scored nine goals. His father, Claudio, captained the United States team at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and scored eight goals in 112 games from 1994 to 2006.
Paraguay, wearing number 39 and playing in their first World Cup since 2010, tied the score with Junior Alonso’s long ball behind Sergiño Dest and Miguel Almiron’s cross. Arce broke away from Miles Robinson and headed in a ricocheting ball, beating Matt Freese with an open header to score his first international goal.
Pochettino was without Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Chris Richards and Anthony Robinson.
Joe Scully started alongside Miles Robinson and Tim Ream in the three-centre back formation the Americans switched to in September, with Dest at right wingback and Alfsten at left wingback. Roldan and Tanner Tessman occupied the midfield, Reyna and Brenden Aaronson moved into the midfield, and Balogun spearheaded the attack.
Freeze and Aaronson were both members of the Philadelphia Union and played in their hometown team’s stadium. ___
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