The U.S. males’s nationwide staff opened its Copa America schedule in successful trend on Sunday after edging Bolivia at AT&T Stadium.
Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun each scored first-half objectives as Gregg Berhalter’s squad defeated Bolivia 2-0 in Arlington, Texas. Pulisic additionally registered one help in a Man of the Match efficiency whereas Tyler Adams made his first begin because the March worldwide window.
“We got here out flying with a whole lot of depth. Clearly, that early aim helped us rather a lot,” Pulisic mentioned. “Throughout, a reasonably dominant efficiency. I believe we might have put it away and had extra objectives there.”
It was a quick begin for the USMNT, who wanted simply three minutes to take a 1-0 lead. Tim Weah’s cross to Pulisic off of a nook kick was curled into the top-right nook of the Bolivia internet.
Guillermo Viscarra acquired a hand to the shot, however was unable to totally preserve it out. It marked Pulisic’s thirtieth worldwide aim, tying him with Brian McBride for the fifth-most in program historical past.
Pulisic’s impactful first half continued because the AC Milan star arrange Balogun for the USMNT’s second aim of the evening. Balogun acquired possession simply exterior of the Bolivia field earlier than racing in and drilling a low shot into the far nook.
It was Balogun’s fourth USMNT aim and his first since October 2023.
Matt Turner was examined twice within the second half and made a pair of key saves to maintain the USMNT’s lead at a number of objectives. Turner denied Roberto Fernández within the 51st minute earlier than additionally repelling Miguel Terceros’ shot after the hour mark.
“It’s a begin that’s large for us. Construct the arrogance,” Antonee Robinson mentioned. “If we have been being choosy, we might have been much more medical, We might have put one other two, three objectives away.”
The USMNT held on to say three factors, giving them added confidence going into Thursday’s showdown with CONCACAF rivals Panama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Josh Sargent, Haji Wright, and Malik Tillman have been among the many unused substitutes in Berhalter’s squad, all of whom who will likely be preventing for minutes in Atlanta later this week.