Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jun 13

Gio Reyna Caps 4-1 U.S. Win With 98th-Minute Trivela, Reveals First Child on the Way

Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jun 13

Gio Reyna Caps 4-1 U.S. Win With 98th-Minute Trivela, Reveals First Child on the Way

Q: With star Christian Pulisic mysteriously subbed at halftime, is the USA's World Cup dream already facing a major hurdle?

No. The evidence so far suggests Christian Pulisic’s halftime exit was a precaution, not a major threat to the USA’s World Cup campaign. Pulisic was substituted after taking a kick to his left calf in the first half against Paraguay. He said afterward that he was “hoping that it’s nothing” and did not think it was serious. Coach Mauricio Pochettino gave a similar explanation, saying Pulisic felt tightness and the staff did not want to take risks, especially with the USA already leading 3-0 at halftime. The context matters. The United States still won 4-1, and the attack remained dangerous without him. Folarin Balogun scored twice, and Giovanni Reyna came off the bench to produce the standout moment of the night with a brilliant stoppage-time goal. That performance underlined that the team has other match-winners if Pulisic needs short-term management. There is still some reason for caution. Pochettino acknowledged Pulisic had difficulty walking immediately after the knock, so his condition will need monitoring. But with six days before the next group match against Australia, the timing is favorable for recovery. At this stage, the bigger takeaway is not crisis but depth. Pulisic remains central to the USMNT, yet the opener showed the team can create, score and control a match through Balogun, Reyna and others. Unless further medical updates reveal a more serious injury, this looks like a manageable concern rather than a major hurdle.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 13

98th-minute Gio Reyna strike sealed a 4-1 U.S. World Cup-opening win over Paraguay, with the midfielder later confirming his wife Chloe is pregnant with their first child.
Reyna said he had known for months and chose the opener as the “perfect time” to reveal it, signaling the news with a ball-under-shirt celebration after scoring with the outside of his right boot.
Mauricio Pochettino’s faith in Reyna had been heavily scrutinized because the 23-year-old had not started a game for Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2026 and had battled injuries and inconsistency for three years.
That goal answered some of that doubt: Christian Pulisic said teammates see Reyna produce moments like it every day, while Pochettino sprinted down the touchline to join the celebration.
The finish also put Reyna into a short World Cup lineage of trivela scorers, turning a late U.S. fourth goal into one of the tournament’s early signature moments.