USMNT Notch Crucial Win Over Paraguay with Gio Reyna Return and Goal
The US men's national team is getting back into the swing of things ahead of the World Cup, and Saturday's 2-1 win over Paraguay was just what they needed – a sign that their star attacking midfielder, Gio Reyna, could finally be on his way back to form.
Reyna, who made his highly anticipated return to the national team just five minutes into the game, scored the opening goal in a match he started and played effectively well into the second half. His goal was a rare header for the attack-minded midfielder, rising high to meet a cross from Max Arfsten before sending it flying past Paraguay goalkeeper Franco Escobar.
But Reyna's return wasn't just about scoring goals – it also meant seeing him operate with freedom in a role that could be game-changer come March 2026 when the World Cup roster is named. US head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been searching for an attacking option to complement Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, and Reyna's potential to provide just that was on full display.
While the win itself was a minor one, it marked a significant step forward in the team's preparations for the World Cup. The US defense, which had been a major concern all tournament, looked solid as a rock against Paraguay, with Tim Ream, Miles Robinson, and Joe Scally marshaling the backline effectively.
But there were still some signs that the team wasn't quite right – a few moments of hesitation in possession that allowed Paraguay to turn them over. There was also the issue of positioning when the ball went upfield, which led to Robinson picking up a yellow card.
Despite these minor quibbles, Reyna's performance and the overall performance of the US team were enough to leave Pochettino feeling optimistic about his team's prospects for next year's World Cup. And with a friendly against Uruguay coming up in just two days, the stage is set for another crucial test of the team's mettle.
For now, though, there was only time to bask in the glow of a much-needed win and the return of a key player who could potentially take their game to new heights.
The US men's national team is getting back into the swing of things ahead of the World Cup, and Saturday's 2-1 win over Paraguay was just what they needed – a sign that their star attacking midfielder, Gio Reyna, could finally be on his way back to form.
Reyna, who made his highly anticipated return to the national team just five minutes into the game, scored the opening goal in a match he started and played effectively well into the second half. His goal was a rare header for the attack-minded midfielder, rising high to meet a cross from Max Arfsten before sending it flying past Paraguay goalkeeper Franco Escobar.
But Reyna's return wasn't just about scoring goals – it also meant seeing him operate with freedom in a role that could be game-changer come March 2026 when the World Cup roster is named. US head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been searching for an attacking option to complement Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, and Reyna's potential to provide just that was on full display.
While the win itself was a minor one, it marked a significant step forward in the team's preparations for the World Cup. The US defense, which had been a major concern all tournament, looked solid as a rock against Paraguay, with Tim Ream, Miles Robinson, and Joe Scally marshaling the backline effectively.
But there were still some signs that the team wasn't quite right – a few moments of hesitation in possession that allowed Paraguay to turn them over. There was also the issue of positioning when the ball went upfield, which led to Robinson picking up a yellow card.
Despite these minor quibbles, Reyna's performance and the overall performance of the US team were enough to leave Pochettino feeling optimistic about his team's prospects for next year's World Cup. And with a friendly against Uruguay coming up in just two days, the stage is set for another crucial test of the team's mettle.
For now, though, there was only time to bask in the glow of a much-needed win and the return of a key player who could potentially take their game to new heights.
. Gio Reyna might've scored a goal, but is he really back to his best? I think we need to see more than just one game from him before we start getting excited. And what about the rest of the team? We can't just chalk this up as a win and assume everything's going to be okay. The defense looked solid, sure, but what about the midfield and attack when it matters most? Let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet... 
so i think ppl r getting a bit carried away with gio reyna's comeback 
like yeah he scored goals but what about his overall game? is he really ready for the world cup? we need to see him do it in more intense matches not just against paraguay 
3-4 more wins and then i'll start to believe he can lead the team to victory 
finally see Gio back in form! his goal was insane, love how he just went up for that header 
and the way he controlled the tempo of the game was so impressive. US defense looked solid tho, glad they were able to keep that 2-1 scoreline. still got some work to do on those possession issues tho 
but overall can't complain with the win! 
his performance was so impressive, i loved seeing him operate with freedom on the field and scoring that beautiful goal 
can't wait to see him bring his A game for the next match! 
! i mean, gio reyna's back and he's firing on all cylinders 
. that header from max arfsten was pure magic 
. but seriously, pocs has been searching for an attacking option to complement christian pulisic and weston mckennie, and reyna just filled that void 
for the USMNT! his goal was so sick 
and it's amazing to see him playing with freedom again 
. still tho, this win is a huge step forward for the team 
and i'm hyped to see what they can do against Uruguay next! 
. The whole US team looked more confident now, especially with Pulisic and McKennie playing well together. Defense was solid too, but like the article said, those little mistakes in possession are still there... need to iron that out before World Cup, you know? 
now let's hope they can iron out those possession issues and get Pochettino feeling like a total boss 
Still, he looked sharp out there and scored a nice goal too, so can't complain 
️. Also, how long is this Uruguay friendly gonna be? Don't wanna leave Gio to rest for 2 days 
.
i mean, it's about time the USMNT gets back on track... Gio Reyna's back, that's what they've been waiting for... 5 min into the game, yeah, sure, he's already a veteran coach 
. seriously though, Pochettino is gonna love this win, another step forward in prep mode. defense looked solid, but hey, at least they didn't get thrashed 
now let's see how they do against Uruguay...
! 2-1 win over Paraguay wasn't exactly a thriller, but it's all about the momentum and getting those young guns (and I mean that in the best way possible) feeling confident 