US gets ball rolling by beating Paraguay

LOS ANGELES – The United States launched their home World Cup in emphatic fashion Friday, thrashing Paraguay 4-1 with a perfectly scripted opening performance to delight a star-studded home crowd in Los Angeles.

Pop star Katy Perry got the party started with a rousing performance just before kick-off while Hollywood royalty including Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Halle Berry were among a 70,492 crowd.

Folarin Balogun scored twice while relentless US pressure led to an early Paraguay own goal from Damian Bobadilla before substitute Gio Reyna added a late fourth to cap a dream start for coach Mauricio Pochettino’s side at the SoFi Stadium in Group D.

The US entered the tournament amid a swirl of uncertainty after a series of defeats and unconvincing performances in pre-World Cup friendlies.

But any doubts about their ability to progress past the first round were obliterated in a dazzling first-half display which saw them roar into a 3-0 lead to all but seal victory in the opening 45 minutes.

“Amazing result,” US captain Tim Ream said.

In Friday’s other game, co-hosts Canada earned the first World Cup point in its history when Cyle Larin grabbed a second-half equalizer in Toronto to make it 1-1 after Bosnia-Herzegovina had taken the lead with a close-range header from Jovo Lukic.

“It was special for me,” said Larin.

I was ready to come and help the team. I thought the goals would come. I score when Canada needs me, and always have done,” Larin said.

Canadian film stars Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers were in the packed crowd to watch the first-ever World Cup match on Canadian soil.