Christian Pulisic scored one goal and set up another as the United States of America (USA) launched their Copa America campaign with a clinical 2-0 Group C victory over Bolivia on Sunday, while, Darwin Nunez helped Uruguay beat a determined Panama 3-1. USA captain Pulisic curled in a superb early goal before teeing up a second for striker Folarin Balogun just before half-time at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington. That two-goal salvo was enough to secure a vital three points for USA coach Gregg Berhalter’s side.
“We came out flying with a lot of intensity,” Pulisic said afterwards. “Obviously an early goal helped us a lot, but all around a pretty dominant performance.” Berhalter had warned his team against complacency against a Bolivia side who had won only one game in nine previous editions of the Copa America since 1999.
Pulisic was clearly in no mood to let the South Americans improve that record of futility, firing the hosts into the lead after only three minutes. Receiving the ball from a corner on the left, the American captain darted towards the edge of the area and whipped a rasping shot goalwards. Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra got a hand to it but could not stop the ball from flying into the roof of the net.
Despite that early breakthrough, the USA struggled to convert their dominance of possession into chances thereafter and were frustrated by a combative Bolivian team that saw three players booked in the first 31 minutes. Leonel Justiniano, Gabriel Vil.
