(Reuters) – The United States will take a boost of confidence from their 2-0 win over Bolivia in the Group C opener at the Copa America on Sunday, team captain Christian Pulisic said, as the tournament hosts fed off the home crowd in Arlington, Texas.
Pulisic struck first with a sublime curling shot into the top corner in the third minute and he set up Folarin Balogun for another score in the 44th minute.
They squandered some scoring opportunities in the second half but “Captain America” Pulisic, who received a hero’s welcome at the home of the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium, said the team had plenty to celebrate.
“We should build some confidence from this and feel good but the games are just going to get tougher and tougher as the tournament goes on so we’ve got to be ready,” the AC Milan midfielder said in a televised interview.
It was exactly the kind of momentum the 11th-ranked team craved as they look to make an impact in South America’s most important national team tournament after reaching knockout stages at the most recent World Cup.
The United States next play the 43rd-ranked Panama on Thursday in Atlanta, before facing 14th-ranked Uruguay in their final group stage match on July 1 in Kansas City.
“Getting off to a win to start with – massive for us,” said defender Antonee Robinson.
“Build the confidence, show we’re here to win, here to play and it puts us in good stead for the next game.”
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
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