Copa America 2024 Recap: USMNT Kicks Off Tourney With 2-0 Win Over Bolivia
A win is a win
The United States Men’s National Team began its Copa America 2024 campaign with a 2-0 win over Bolivia.
Gregg Berhalter rolled out a very familiar starting XI to kick off the tournament. Former New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner was in net while Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, and Joe Scally made up the back line.
Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Gio Reyna made up the midfield while Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, and Christian Pulisic made up the attacking trio. After dealing with injuries for most of the past English Premier League season, it was pleasing to see Adams return to the USMNT starting XI.
The U.S. didn’t waste time getting on the front foot as they were taking shots and pressuring Bolivia from the jump. Christian Pulisic found the opener in the 3rd minute curling a shot into the back of the net.
Scoring so early was a confidence boost to the USMNT but also allowed them to play their game. Instead of fighting for three points, they got to focus on improving as a unit.
Weah and Balogun caused problems for the Bolivian back line. Weah used his pace to blow by defenders while Balogun used his skill and physicality to create chances.
But after a flurry of offense in the first 15 minutes, the game slowed down a bit. Scoring chances became more rare and both sides struggled to break through the midfield and into the final third.
Gabriel Villamíl picked up the match’s first card of the evening after a hard tackle on Reyna in the 28th minute. Reyna won another free kick after he was chopped down by Luis Haquín who also earned a yellow card moments later.
The tackles seemed to wake the U.S. up as the attack was reinvigorated. Reyna himself also improved after dealing with the physical play from Bolivia.
Balogun was finally able to find a goal as he snuck a low-driven shot into the corner of the net in the 44th minute. While the USMNT dominated possession and outshot Bolivia, Berhalter and Co. definitely wanted more from the first 45 minutes, even with a 2-0 lead.
Berhalter made his first change at half as Yunus Musha replaced Adams who was continuing to build fitness. For Bolivia, Miguel Terceros, Héctor Cuellar, and Rodrigo Ramallo replaced César Menacho, Diego Medina, and Leonel Justiniano.
In the second half, Bolivia was the team that came out firing and was able to control some possession. But Pulisic nearly scored another scorcher in the 60th minute but his shot was saved by Guillermo Viscarra.
In the 65th minute, Balogun and Reyna were replaced by Ricardo Pepi and Johnny Cardoso. Pepi nearly made an immediate impact as he received a cross from Robinson but his shot attempt was off target. Pepi would be robbed by Viscarra in the 78th minute as the striker launched a shot towards goal that rocketed off the goalkeeper’s gloves.
The striker would get his final chance just before stoppage time but Viscarra made another impressive save. As mentioned on the broadcast, the Texas native seemed cursed in front of net.
Turner didn’t face a lot of pressure but made three saves on the night. Pulisic was the Man of the Match as he was a menace all over the pitch. It was his best game in a U.S. shirt.
But the USMNT will want to improve on this performance. Considering the possession and number of shots the Stars and Stripes had, they should have added one or two additional goals. Against better competition, they will need to convert on more of their scoring chances.
Still, a win is a win and the USMNT sits atop of Group C currently. Now the U.S. will descend to Georgia to face Panama.