USMNT vs. Paraguay score: USA soccer top South Americans but brawl blemishes impressive victory

The U.S. managed to win 2-1 but composure was lost late on

CHESTER, Pa. -- Facing a Paraguay side who have accomplished feats such as toppling Brazil and Argentina, the United States men's national team were able to take care of business, winning 2-1 at Subaru Park on Saturday in a game that saw a brawl take place before the final whistle started by Gustavo Gomez and Alex Freeman. 

Regulars like Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams may not have been with the squad, but Mauricio Pochettino wasn't short on options as Gio Reyna scored his first USMNT goal since March of 2024 while making his first appearance since March of 2025. Despite struggling to get the ball during much of the game, Folarin Balogun was there when he was needed to put the team ahead for good late in the second half of play. It's the third consecutive game with a goal for the Monaco man as he's finding form for the USMNT at a critical time. 

Even struggling for space in the first half, he was there when the team needed him to push the USMNT ahead for good and ensure that they'd keep that lead. This is why it was important for Balogun to commit to the USMNT instead of England, and now they're seeing the fruits of his commitment.

With time until the World Cup dwindling during what is the beginning of the final international break of 2025, the USMNT are hitting their stride as they're now unbeaten in four straight games. Even without his full squad, Pochettino's men are getting results as the move to a back three has provided critical room for error. If they can continue this growth, it may become time to believe that they can make a statement at the 2026 World Cup on home soil. 

It was a long road to get to this point, featuring Pochettino calling in 71 players as he leaves no stone unturned in the player pool, but with unearthly gems such as Diego Luna, Alex Freeman, Max Arfsten, and Tanner Tessemann, that experimentation has worked. Things will be tougher for the USMNT facing Uruguay in on Tuesday, but there's plenty of reason to believe that they can secure a signature win without stars in the side.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 5:09 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The fight may mar what was a good game from start to finish but the USMNT will keep their unbeaten streak going as it now reaches four matches. It's great to see Gio Reyna find the back of the net and here is the rundown of the goals:

71' 2-1: There's Balogun! In the second half, he has dropped back more, and Brenden Aaronson found him to put the USMNT ahead.

9' 1-1: It's another header for Paraguay this time as they cut through the USMNT defense and Almiron put the ball on a plate for Arce to head it past Matt Freese in net.

4' 1-0: GIO REYNA IS BACK with... a header?! Talk about marking your return to the USMNT with a bang, as the team did a great job keeping the ball alive, and Reyna made it count.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 7:03 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

After a hard tackle by Paraguay as tempers flared and the benches cleared between the United States and Paraguay. Gustavo Gomez and Alex Freeman were at the center of things, but with no red cards issued to anyone in play, we'll play out the remainder of stoppage time in Chester. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 6:59 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

We've got some nerve-racking moments to see out as Paraguay will throw everything that they can forward.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 6:47 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Pepi had the ball in the box, but a great recovery block from Paraguay kept him from making this 3-1.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 6:45 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Mauricio Pochettino is going to the bench again, this time bringing on three players - Ricardo Pepi, Timothy Tillman and Aidan Morris. Coming off are Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna and Cristian Roldan.

This is Pepi's first game for the national team in roughly a year, the forward saddled with injuries for much of that time off. He's someone to keep an eye on, though - the USMNT have a batch of in-form forwards between him, Balogun and Haji Wright, creating a genuine sense of competition for minutes up top.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 6:41 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The best forwards in the world are there when called upon, and while Balogun had a rough first half of play, he was clinical to put the USMNT ahead in the second half. That's just what you want to see from one of the most important attackers in the squad.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 6:36 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

To close this out, the USMNT will be in a back four as Dest comes off for Freeman and Scally comes off for Luna. This is when it's time for Pochettino's tactical flexibility to shine.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 6:32 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Diego Liuna and Alex Freeman are getting ready for the USMNT, but there will be a corner kick to take first.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 6:23 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Trumedia

Paraguay's defense has been solid, but this lack of penetration into the attacking third is something else. 

[Nov 15, 2025 at 6:16 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

No changes for the second half, but Reyna has moved to the left to try to balance the attack.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 5:58 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

We've had an open game but the USMNT are getting put the CONMEBOL ringer with some of the challenges. We may not end with each team having 11 on the pitch.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 5:42 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The American striker has been isolated without Christian Pulisic in the attack today. Only one player, on both teams, has fewer touches than his eight so far in the match, and that's Matt Freese in the USMNT net with four. Freese can essentially get out a camping chair, but the USMNT needs to get their star forward involved sooner than later.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 5:36 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It came from a tactical foul to stop a promising Paraguay counter. While the USMNT have been in control, these counter attacks are nervy moments.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 5:25 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The trio of Reyna, Aaronson, and Dest are making things happen. Dest is playing as an inverted fullback, joining the midfield whenever he can, and Paraguay doesn't have many answers for it. There will be another USMNT goal before long.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 5:16 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

He hasn't played for the USMNT since March of 2025 and has yet to score a goal for Borussia Monchengladbach, but within five minutes, he finds the back of the net for his country. Just amazing stuff during what is a critical window for the young attacking midfielder.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 5:01 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

We have a fascinating lineup today as the USMNT will be up for a challenge, facing Paraguay. Matt Freese will need to be on alert as players like Julio Ensicso will have a pop from distance to see if they can catch the team off guard, but overall this will be an even affair in Chester.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 4:43 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

One of the most capped members of the attack, with 21 appearances for the USMNT, the pressure will be on Balogun to carry the attack without the USMNT regulars beside him. The World Cup is drawing closer, and with goals in his last two starts, Balogun is showing why there was so much promise behind his commitment to the USMNT as a dual national. He's been able to create space for others with his movement and holdup play while putting shots on frame to keep defenses honest. 

In form for club and country, if the USMNT are going to get results from games in this window, they'll need Balogun at his best but his role will change a bit depending on the lineup. If Reyna does start, his ability on the ball will help create space but otherwise, Balogun will need to operate in smaller windows of space than he has become accustomed to. It's a good test for him as it'll be one that prepares him for his first World Cup.

[Nov 15, 2025 at 4:28 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Gio Reyna may be the headliner but he is one of three players who start today who were not even part of the USMNT's October friendlies, natural for a team with 12 new faces from last month's camp. Mauriico Pochettino did hint that building chemistry is a bit of a challenge in these circumstances but the U.S. are trying to make up the difference off the field - here's Diego Luna on the connections they are trying to build off the field in the hopes of making progress on it.

• Luna: "There's not that many trainings we get to have, not that many times you get to connect with guys leading into games. It's about more, I think, connecting off the field, building that chemistry and that bond to build to kind of have that trust on the field and stuff like that. I think that's the biggest thing."

[Nov 15, 2025 at 4:13 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Gio Reyna earns his first start under Mauriico Pochettino, having only played for the head coach once before - seven months ago as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat to Canada in the Concacaf Nations League third place match. Reyna's inclusion was a mix of a few things - his club situation finally being sorted out with his transfer to Borussia Monchengladbach and Pochettino's insistence on giving players an adequate amount of opportunities before the World Cup.

Reyna seems to have seized his opportunities, something defender Tim Ream had noticed over the course of the week.

• Ream: "He's not really let the challenges overseas seep into camp, which is great to see. I've had a few conversations with him, nothing crazy, but he's speaking up a lot more in the trainings in terms of, 'I'm seeing this, what are you seeing?' He's really getting involved in the understanding of the movements and what we're kind of doing in the buildup and in the defensive shape so I feel like he's more in tune and more focused on the field than I've seen in the past, which is a great thing and I think weather it was injury or other things that were going on, I think his focus is so much greater now and that's a good thing. I think that's something that, as young players -- he's not the only one – you see it a lot. I was guilty of it as well. You kind of lose focus a little bit as trainings go on. Like I said, his focus seems so much more intense and greater this time around after missing out for so many camps."

[Nov 15, 2025 at 3:50 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Despite not having key players, that doesn't mean that the team isn't prepared for this game.

"The way Poch wants us to play, he wants everyone to know their role, he wants everyone to be onboard and he wants nobody to think their postion is gaurenteed so I wouldn't say [regular players missing] affects preperation too much but of course at the same time wer're missing some key players and when we get to the important games and where it matters we're gonna want everyone fit and availible," Folorian Balogun said, speaking ahead of the match. "But the most important thing is to manage what we have, and of course, the players who aren't here get healthy and look after themselves."

[Nov 15, 2025 at 3:34 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

• Date: Saturday, Nov. 15 | Time: 5 p.m. ET
• Location: Subaru Park -- Chester, Pennsylvania
• TV: TNT | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
• Odds: USMNT +130; Draw +230; Paraguay +210

[Nov 15, 2025 at 3:32 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Rain is in the forecast for the day, but we should get some good soccer on the docket with the USMNT hosting Paraguay in Chester. There will be a large Paraguay presence at Subaru Park, but with Union academy products also returning to the stadium, there will be quite a reception for them.