The U.S. men’s soccer national team defeated Bolivia 2-0 in their opening match of the Copa America on Sunday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Goals from Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun helped the U.S. team outplay Bolivia throughout the 90 minutes on the pitch.
The U.S. made its presence felt in this edition of the Copa America and looked to take an early lead against Bolivia, who were the favorites to win on Sunday night.
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America’s Folarin Balogun (20) is guarded by Bolivia’s Jesus Sagredo during the first half of a game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, June 23, 2024. (John Todd/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Just over two minutes into the game, veteran U.S. international Pulisic scored after the Stars and Stripes earned a corner kick.
Instead of sending a cross into the box, Pulisic played a short pass to Timothy Weah, who was heading towards goal, and Weah dropped the ball to the right, where Pulisic decided to take a shot on goal for his first goal of the tournament. It couldn’t have been better.
Pulisic attempted to curve the ball from right to left, kicked it at the perfect height and watched the ball fly over the Bolivian goalkeeper and into the right side of the goal.
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The largely American crowd erupted in hysterics as Pulisic celebrated with his teammates his 30th international goal.
The first half was slow from there, but the momentum returned in the second half when Pulisic received a through ball and made a quick run alongside 22-year-old Folarin Balogun down the left wing, before dropping the ball to Balogun, who was looking to take on the Bolivian defender one-on-one.
United States’ Christian Pulisic kicks the ball during a Copa America 2024 Group C match against Bolivia at AT&T Stadium on June 23, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Balogun stepped to the left and fired a low shot that went between the defender’s legs and past the keeper, who was not able to stretch out far enough to make the save.
Balogun’s 44th-minute goal was the fourth of his international career and was all the offense the U.S. needed to secure the victory.
There were numerous chances to add to the score in the second half, notably when substitute Ricardo Pepi had two chances close to the goal line, but the Bolivian goalkeeper made two excellent saves to deny them.
But when the final whistle blew, the Americans were beaming, knowing they’d gotten the job done and earned their first three points of the tournament.
United States’ Christian Pulisic celebrates with his teammates after scoring during the first half of a game against Bolivia at AT&T Stadium on June 23, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (John Todd/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
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Their next test comes later this week, on Thursday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
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