The United States men’s national team kicked off their 2024 Copa America campaign with a convincing 2-0 win against Bolivia at AT&T Stadium. This victory marked a positive start for the USMNT on home soil, with Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun finding the back of the net. Despite generating only 0.38 expected goals in the first half, the Americans managed to secure a comfortable lead just before halftime, and the result never seemed in doubt.
Among the standout performers for the USMNT was Christian Pulisic, who not only scored an early goal but also displayed his ability to break out of pressure and create opportunities for his teammates. His dynamic play in central areas and playmaking skills were a key factor in the team’s success. In contrast, Chris Richards had a disappointing performance, consistently giving away possession and sparking counter attacks for Bolivia. His errant passes could have proven costly, and he will need to improve in upcoming matches.
Gregg Berhalter, the USMNT coach, made two key changes to the starting lineup from their previous match against Brazil. Giving Tyler Adams his first start since March proved to be a wise decision, as Adams had a decent showing despite signs of rust. Berhalter’s choice to start Folarin Balogun at striker also paid off, with Balogun scoring the crucial second goal for the team. However, there were moments of sloppiness in the team’s performance that could be addressed in future matches.
While the USMNT secured a 2-0 victory, there were several missed opportunities throughout the match. Ricardo Pepi, coming off the bench, missed a golden chance to score from close range. His inability to convert these chances could have had an impact on the outcome of the match. Additionally, there were moments of miscommunication and mishits in the team’s play that need to be rectified moving forward.
Despite a solid start to their Copa America campaign, the USMNT will need to address certain areas of improvement as they face tougher opponents in the tournament. Consistency in possession, better decision making in the final third, and tighter defensive play will be crucial for the team’s success. Building on the positives from this match while learning from their mistakes will be key for the USMNT as they progress in the tournament.
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