Folarin Balogun powered coach Mauricio Pochettino’s men to a strong performance as they pummeled Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles.
Balogun is now only the second American player to score more than a goal in a World Cup game.
The first was Bert Patenaude, who scored a hat-trick against…Paraguay in the 1930 World Cup.
“I am delighted with our victory. This is my first World Cup appearance and getting two goals is a great feeling,” celebrated the official Man of the Match.
The World Cup co-hosts overwhelmed the South Americans in the early stages with three first-half goals.
US put their opponents under pressure from the start and took an early lead when Damien Bobadilla put the ball into his own net.
AS Monaco hitman Balogun scored in the 31st minute to make it 2-0 for the home team.
He then added a third with a powerful strike to the top of the corner with his left foot.
Paraguay pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute through Mauricio, before Gio Reyna sealed the victory with a superb goal after coming on as a late sub.
