Copa America 2024: USA opens campaign with 2-0 win against Bolivia

Christian Pulisic provided a goal and assisted another as the U.S. easily defeated Bolivia 2-0 in Group C to start their Copa America campaign.

At the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, US captain Pulisic scored a brilliant early goal and set up a second for attacker Folarin Balogun just before halftime.

That two-goal barrage was sufficient to give Gregg Berhalter's team, which also plays regional foe Panama and in-form Uruguay in the group round, a crucial three points.

Against a Bolivian squad that had only won one game in the nine previous Copa America tournaments before 1999, Berhalter had cautioned his players against complacency.

Pulisic sent the host into the lead after only three minutes, obviously not in the mood to let the South Americans break that futility record.

After receiving the ball from a corner on the left, the American captain sprinted outside the box and unleashed a rasping shot toward the goal.

Although Bolivian goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra reached out to grab it, the ball flew into the net's ceiling.

Even with that early lead, the U.S. was hampered by a tough Bolivian squad, with three players booked in the first thirty-one minutes. It should have turned its possession advantage into opportunities.

After Bolivia started being indisciplined, Italian referee Maurizio Mariani issued yellow cards to Leonel Justiniano, Gabriel Villamil, and Luis Haquin.

Pulisic was significantly engaged once again as the U.S. extended their advantage in the 44th minute.

Acquiring the ball close to midway, the AC Milan striker raced into the Bolivian penalty area and squared to Balogun, who touched on, pushing defender Jesus Sagredo aside before hitting a low effort into the bottom corner.

Bolivia's issues with the U.S. front line's better mobility persisted after the restart.

Tim Weah's low effort in the 50th minute just eluded Balogun's toe, and he had the ball in the goal minutes later but was called just offside.

Then, in the sixty-first minute, Pulisic weaved into the penalty area and fired a fierce shot that Viscarra had to stop.

After replacing Gio Reyna in the 65th minute, Ricardo Pepi could have made it 3-0, but his attempt from an Antonee Robinson cross rolled wide.

In the 90th minute, Viscarra denied Pepi a goal, making a last-ditch double stop.

On Thursday, the U.S. takes on Panama in their second competition match.

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