ARLINGTON, Texas – In the first of two pre-tests at the 2024 Copa América, the U.S. Men’s National Team wasted no time. It knew fans would grow restless with every goalless minute; it knew that with each toothless asset, Bolivian confidence would grow. So in the third minute of the USMNT’s Copa América opener here at AT&T Stadium, Captain America’s Christian Pulisic took control.
He curled a beauty into the top corner and set an emphatic tone.
He led the way and destroyed all American concerns.
Pulisic’s early goal lifted the USMNT to a 2-0 win over Bolivia on Sunday – and what it hopes will be a prosperous tournament.
In many ways the USMNT had to defeat Bolivia, and simply did as he was told. The performance was more satisfying than sparkling, more businesslike than exciting or convincing. Sometimes it was boring, boring even.
But it was enough. After the momentum seemed to have disappeared in the first half, Folarin Balogun doubled the lead and put Bolivia to bed.
After halftime, “USA” chants began around JerryWorld, home of the 80,000-seat Dallas Cowboys. The wave rolled counterclockwise, enlivening an atmosphere that many feared would be stale.
Indeed, the 400 level was mostly empty, but 47,873 fans filled the lower bowls of the colossal building. They almost erupted when Ricardo Pepi had a raft of second-half chances; Somehow, none of his shots – some from close range, others well on target – found the back of the net.
Although they didn’t get a goal in the second half, most fans seemed to enjoy the show.
They will also appreciate that this was an appetizer of sorts; and that the tests will only get tougher from here. Bolivia is perhaps the worst team at this Copa América. Panama, a feisty CONCACAF foe, is in Atlanta next Thursday.
Then comes Uruguay in Kansas City, and then a possible quarterfinal, probably against Colombia or Brazil. That’s where this chapter of the USMNT story – and perhaps of Gregg Berhalter’s second cycle at the helm of the team – will be written.
The US entered this tournament at a potential turning point of the Berhalter era. It could have signature wins and proof of concept by mid-July; Or it could have evidence that pre-2022 progress has stalled and the coach needs to go.
Sunday, through that lens, was all risk and no reward. It was a danger rather than an opportunity to rise. A victory was the expectation, the demand. Anything less would have been a huge disappointment.
So it was an expectation that was fulfilled. These were three points that the US would take to Atlanta. And perhaps most importantly, as Berhalter said after the match, “there was never any doubt about it.”
Well, that was… fine. Reasonable. Sometimes uninspired, sometimes a bit dynamic, ultimately sufficient.
It was the follow-up to the match between the US and Jamaica in March. That night, and on many other nights, the US has struggled to break down low blocks. On this night, Pulisic put that conversation to rest in less than three minutes, and the US continued its journey without really being challenged. Might the game have looked different if Pulisic hadn’t curled a beauty into the top corner? Who knows.
The positive takeaways:
Pulisic is the man. He’s in good shape. He likes the responsibility that the captaincy gives him. He is ready to drive this team as far as possible.
Folarin Balogun scored his first goal in six American games. Could it boost his confidence, which seemed to be in the cellar for the first forty minutes of the match? We will see.
Tyler Adams started and came away unscathed.
The negatives?
Ricardo Pepi didn’t get his confidence-boosting goal despite a series of chances.
The US was somewhat sloppy and ragged in possession. A better team would have benefited from this.
All in all, though, this is a game we’ll soon forget. The next two, three or more will determine the USMNT’s Copa América.
USMNT almost 3 points
After a mostly quiet second half, the US seemed comfortable with the 2-0 scoreline until the final whistle. But not Ricardo Pepi, who took another shot from five meters and was denied by Bolivia’s Guillermo Viscarra. Then denied again after the deflection!
Carmelo Algaranaz replaces Bruno Miranda for Bolivia.
65′ Substitution
USMNT replaces Folarin Balogun with Ricardo Pepi and Gio Reyna with Johnny Cardoso.
Johnny replaces Gio
Berhalter closes his store
Tim Ream Care
Ream seems to be struggling with something, although it’s unclear what.
Matt Turner threw the ball just out of bounds for Ream to get behind. Ream collapsed. Athletic trainers never came to check on him, so it appears he will move on. But we’ll see if that concern sticks, and we’ll see if Ream can last 90 minutes.
53′ Balogun almost gets his second
49′ Yellow card
Weston McKennie earns his first booking after a tough challenge.
Halftime change for the US
Yunus Musah replaces Tyler Adams.
Adams is definitely on some sort of minutes limit. Whether the predetermined limit was 45, or whether it was more, but Berhalter decided that the match was under control, we don’t know (yet).
46′ Substitution
Yunus Musah replaces Tyler Adams for the US Miguel Terceros replaces Cesar Menacho on the Bolivian side.
HALF TIME: USA 2-0 Bolivia
The USMNT goes into halftime with a comfortable 2-0 lead after goals from Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun.
