USA-BOLIVIA EXPRESS:
June 23 in Arlington, Texas
USA 2 Bolivia 0. Goals: Pulisic 3, Balogun 44.
Att.: 47,873.
The USA opened play at the 2024 Copa America with a 2-0 win over Bolivia.
Anything else than a multiple-goal win over the worst team in South America — loser now of 13 straight Copa America matches — would have been a major disappointment. The USMNT achieved the bare minimum with a performance that did nothing to allay concerns about its ability to dominate even weak opponents.
The USA scored early and late in the first half, getting goals by Christian Pulisic (1-0) and Folarin Balogun (2-0), but could not add to its lead in the second half.
Against a better team, the USA would have been punished for its sloppy play. Bolivia was never going to do that. But poor passing out of the back kept the USA from applying constant pressure on La Verde.
Christian Pulisic dribbles the ball along the sideline during the Copa America 2024 Group C match between Bolivia and United States at AT&T Stadium. Photo: Robin Alam/ISI Photos
USA Player Ratings
(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)
GOALKEEPER
Matt Turner needed to make only three saves, all from distance. As part of the USA’s direct approach, he consistently played long balls out of the back, but to little positive effect.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/ENG) 42/0 (29)
DEFENDERS
Any chance the USA had of putting the game away in the first half after an impressive start was lost because of an inability to make passes. In the 20th minute, Tim Ream played a 30-yard pass straight to a Bolivian defender, and two minutes later Chris Richards hit a pass of similar distance over Antonee Richards‘ head out of bounds. Richards’ passing got worse in the second half. It cost Weston McKennie a yellow card when he was forced to foul in order to break up a potential attack in the 49th minute. Joe Scally had a quiet first half, but then earned a series of free kicks as he was pushed into the Bolivian territory in the second half. Antonee Robinson lined up most of the game on the left side of the frontline, as he often does, but struggled to make an impact on the game in the first half. But he later set up Ricardo Pepi for close-in opportunities in the 66th and 90th minutes that could have led to goals.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Joe Scally (Borussia M’Gladbach/GER) 12/0 (21)
3
Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG) 19/1 (24)
5
Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG) 59/1 (36)
6
Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG) 44/4 (26)
MIDFIELDERS
Gio Reyna often played in a deep role, limiting his ability to go at the Bolivian defense, but he did grow into the game, drawing a pair of yellow cards in the 28th and 31st minutes. He set up the play that led to Tim Weah’s chance in the 8th minute and fed Christian Pulisic down the middle on the play that led to Folarin Balogun’s goal. Weston McKennie lined up at different positions on the field, on the right wing and next to Balogun in the middle of the attack, but he had a relatively quiet game. Tyler Adams‘ 45-minute stint in his first start at any level since late March was encouraging. He often ventured forward, setting McKennie up for a chance in the 16th minute that led to a corner kick.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG) 40/2 (25)
5
Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA) 54/11 (25)
6
Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest/ENG) 29/8 (21)
FORWARDS
Where would USMNT be without Christian Pulisic? It’s a question increasingly asked as he continues to carry the team. He opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, placing a perfectly angled ball past Bolivia keeper Guillermo Viscarra with a shot he was given way too much time to line up. He assisted on Folarin Balogun‘s goal in the 43rd minute after driving straight down the middle at the Bolivia backline, where he is often at his best. Another such move forced Viscarra into a save in the 60th minute. Balogun earned the corner kick off which Pulisic scored and finally ended his U.S. scoring drought, moving to his left to take a pass from Pulisic and placing a rolling ball past Viscarra, caught moving the wrong direction. Tim Weah continues to the best U.S.forward at combining with his teammates and creating space for them. He led the ball perfectly into Pulisic’s path off the short corner kick that led to the opening goal. Weah combined with McKennie on what would have been Balogun’s second goal but he was offside after taking a return pass from McKennie.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
7
Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA) 40/6 (24)
7
Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA) 13/4 (23)
8
Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA) 69/30 (25)
SUBSTITUTES
Ricardo Pepi’s return to his adopted home will be one he will want back. In his 25 minutes on the field, he had six shots and forced Viscarra into four saves. Probably his best opportunity was his first one that he failed to put on goal. Yunus Musah, who came on for Adams after the break, bailed out Richards in the 59th minute with a recovery stop. Johnny Cardoso and Luca de la Torre also entered the game, a rare look with a completely new U.S. midfield trio in the game.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA) 38/0 (21)
4
Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED) 26/10 (21)
5
Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP) 14/0 (22)
NR
Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP) 22/0 (25)
NR
Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER) 42/8 (23)
TRIVIA: Christian Pulisic’s goal was the 30th of his international career, tying him with Brian McBride for fifth on the USMNT’s all-time scoring list. He did it faster than any other player, scoring his 30th goal in only his 69th international appearance.
NOTABLE: The USA is 6-0-0 at AT&T Stadium. It’s also unbeaten in its last 19 matches (15 wins and 4 ties) in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Its only loss was 1-0 to Mexico at the Cotton Bowl in 1974 in the second and last match under legendary German coach Dettmar Cramer.
UP NEXT: The USA will face Panama in its second game at the Copa América on Thursday in Atlanta.
June 23 in Arlington, Texas
USA 2 Bolivia 0. Goals: Pulisic 3, Balogun 44.
USA — Turner; Scally, Richards, Ream, A.Robinson; Reyna (Cardoso, 66), Adams (Musah, 46), McKennie (de la Torre, 78); Weah (Aaronson, 86), Balogun (Pepi, 65), Pulisic.
Bolivia — Viscarra; Fernández (Vaca, 75), Haquin, Medina (Cuéllar, 46), José Sagredo, Jesús Sagredo; Justiniano (Ramallo, 46), Villamil, Saucedo; Miranda (Algarañaz, 67), Menacho (Terceros, 46).
Yellow cards: USA — McKennie 49; Bolivia — Justiniano 27, Villamíl 28, Haquín 31, Sagredo 90+2. Red cards: None.
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy). ARs: Daniele Bindoni (Italy), Alberto Tegoni (Italy). Fourth Official: Jhon Ospina (Colombia). Fifth Official: Jhon Gallego (Colombia). VAR: Marco Di Bello (Italy). AVAR: Aleandro Di Paolo (Italy).
Att.: 47,873.
Stats:
USA/BOL
Shots: 20 / 6
Shots on target: 8 / 3
Saves: 3 / 6
Corner Kicks: 7 / 1
Fouls: 7 / 18
Offside: 1 / 1
Possession: 61% / 39%
Source link : https://www.socceramerica.com/usa-player-ratings-bolivia-copa-america/
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Publish date : 2024-06-23 22:57:12
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