CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS was an unused substitute as the USA overcame Bolivia 2-0 in their opening Copa America game in Arlington.
The Celtic central defender got the day off as his adopted nation enjoyed a winning start in Group C with the help of a third-minute strike from Christian Pulisic.
Folarin Balogun added the second shortly before the interval as the tournament hosts made certain there were no banana skins against opponents who have won only one of their last 31 matches in the competition.
Coach Gregg Berhalter said: “The message to the team is it’s always important to win your first game.
CHEERS…Christian Pulisic celebrates after hitting USA’s early opener against Bolivia.
“We talked about progressing and improving our performance throughout the tournament, so I think it was a good starting point.”
Pulisic scored a spectacular goal from the edge of the box to get the ball rolling with his 30th goal in 69 international matches, with the first coming against the Bolivians in May 2016.
The former Chelsea forward, now with AC Milan, set up the second for Balogun in the 44th minute.
Carter-Vickers will be hoping to be involved when the USA play Panama in Atlanta on Thursday.
Hoops team-mate Alistair Johnston, whose Canadian team have already lost 2-0 to Lionel Messi’s Argentina, will be in action in his nation’s Group A encounter against Peru tomorrow.
