Scuffle to Conclude the Paraguay Match

With the Clock Winding Down, the U.S. Still Did Not Give an Inch

What started as a competitive but controlled friendly between two World Cup-bound nations descended into chaos in the dying moments at Subaru Park on Saturday night, as a dispute over possession sparked a bench-clearing brawl that overshadowed the United States' 2-1 victory over Paraguay.

The incident erupted in the 91st minute when USMNT defender Alex Freeman and Paraguay captain Gustavo Gómez wrestled over a ball that had rolled out of bounds. The match official appeared to signal for an American throw-in, but both players refused to relinquish possession, triggering a physical altercation that quickly escalated.

Within seconds, players from both benches flooded onto the field. Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and FC Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson were among the first to sprint into the fray, followed by nearly every player from both matchday squads. Punches were thrown amid the melee, and at one point, Freeman shoved a Paraguayan player who had grabbed hold of him outside the main scrum. A bottle was even thrown toward the pitch from the stands during the chaos.

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino became an unintended casualty when he attempted to intervene. After trying to get in front of his players, Pochettino was knocked to the ground near the camera bank. Fortunately, Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro witnessed the fall and helped his counterpart to his feet. "I'm lucky that Alfaro saw me and helped me up," Pochettino said gratefully.

The incident resulted in six yellow cards and a red card for Paraguay's Omar Alderete, who wasn't even in the match as a player. Despite condemning the brawl, goalkeeper Matt Freese praised his teammates' solidarity. "There were a few cheap shots thrown from their end, to be honest," Freese said. "But that's part of being a team, we'll be sticking up for each other no matter the moment."

Gio's Redemption

Reyna Scores on His USMNT Return

Gio Reyna's journey back to scoring for the United States national team has been nothing short of tumultuous, making Saturday's performance against Paraguay all the more significant for the 23-year-old midfielder.

Once considered American soccer's brightest prospect—becoming the youngest American to appear in the Bundesliga at 17 years and 66 days—Reyna's career has been derailed by injuries, controversies and diminishing playing time. His promising start at Borussia Dortmund faded amid fitness issues, and his involvement in the 2022 World Cup saga permanently altered his standing. After then-coach Gregg Berhalter nearly sent him home for poor training effort, Reyna's parents revealed a decades-old domestic abuse allegation against Berhalter, triggering a messy public fallout that temporarily cost Berhalter his job.

Since that watershed moment, Reyna has struggled to find stability. A loan spell at Nottingham Forest yielded minimal impact—just 10 appearances and no goals. He managed only 341 league minutes at Dortmund throughout 2024-25 before making a permanent €7 million move to Borussia Mönchengladbach last August. Even there, he's started just once while battling another thigh injury.

His recall to Mauricio Pochettino's November squad came as a surprise given his lack of game time. Reyna hadn't started for club or country since September 14, and that had been his first start since March. Yet Pochettino's faith proved warranted. Starting against Paraguay marked Reyna's first international start since the Copa América—the final game under Berhalter. Within four minutes, he scored with a header, surpassing his father Claudio's eight international goals. The playmaker then assisted Folarin Balogun's winner in the 71st minute, logging 75 minutes without issue.

"It was an opportunity for me to show that I belong here," Reyna said afterward, crediting Pochettino for giving him "freedom and confidence." For a player desperate to redefine himself beyond injuries and controversy, Saturday represented a crucial step toward redemption and World Cup inclusion.

USMNT Beat Paraguay

Goals From Reyna and Balogun Were the Difference in a "Friendly" Victory

The United States men's national team secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Paraguay on Saturday night in a friendly that ended in dramatic fashion with a bench-clearing brawl at Subaru Park in Philadelphia.

Gio Reyna provided the spark for the Americans, scoring just four minutes into the match—his first international start in 16 months. The 23-year-old, celebrating two days after his birthday, rose to meet Max Arfsten's cross with a header that glanced off goalkeeper Orlando Gill's fingertips and bounced in off the crossbar. The goal was particularly meaningful as it gave Reyna nine career international goals, surpassing his father Claudio's total of eight for the national team.

Paraguay responded quickly, equalizing in the 10th minute when Junior Alonso's long ball found Miguel Almirón, whose cross was headed home by Álex Arce past goalkeeper Matt Freese. The decisive moment came in the 71st minute after substitute Diego Luna forced a turnover. Folarin Balogun collected the loose ball and found Reyna, whose cut-back pass deflected off Damián Bobadilla before Balogun finished to restore the American lead.

The match's intensity boiled over in stoppage time when defender Alex Freeman and Paraguay captain Diego Gómez wrestled for a loose ball near the touchline, triggering a melee that drew both benches onto the field. Paraguay's Omar Alderete received a red card despite not being in the game.

"That type of situation is very, very, very dangerous," said U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was knocked into the camera area during the fracas before being helped up by his Paraguayan counterpart Gustavo Alfaro. Despite condemning the brawl, Pochettino praised his team's competitive spirit and noted the importance of such intense matches ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The victory extended the Americans' unbeaten streak to four matches, continuing their positive momentum under Pochettino.