CHRISTIAN Pulisic had the hand on Team USA’s two goals as they cruised to a 2-0 victory over Bolivia in the 2024 Copa America on Sunday night (Monday in the Philippines) at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Pulisic opened the scoring for Team USA in the 2:23 mark as he curled a right-foot shot off the outstretched fingertips of goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra and into the far upper corner from a pass by Tim Weah.
Folarin Balogun doubled the lead for USA when he received a pass from Pulisic, took several touches and threaded a low, left-foot shot along the ground, past defenders Jesús Sagredo and Viscarra.
“We came out flying with a lot of intensity. Obviously, that early goal helped us a lot,” Pulisic said. “All around, a pretty dominant performance. I think we could have put it away and had more goals there.”
Pulisic joined Clint Dempsey as the only US players with a goal and an assist in a Copa America match and reached 30 goals in 69 international appearances, the fewest among Americans.
“It’s a start that’s massive for us. Build the confidence,” American defender Antonee Robinson said. “If we were being picky, we could have been a lot more clinical. We could have put another two, three goals away.”
Meanwhile, in Euro Cup 2024, Niclas Fullkrug scored an injury time goal as Germany forced a 1-1 draw with Switzerland over at the Frankfurt Arena in Frankfurt, Germany.
Down 0-1 after a 28th-minute goal by Switzerland Dan Ndoye, Fullkrug made sure to share the top with their opponents as he knocked down a header from a pass by David Raum in the 90+2 minute.
Germany finished the Group A on top with seven points, on two wins and a draw, while Switzerland is in second with five points, on one win and two draws.
Hungary pulled off a 1-0 escape over Scotland courtesy of a 90+10 minute goal of Kevin Csoboth. Both squads will not advance to Euro 2024’s round of 16./PN
