USA Ties Brazil 1-1 In Copa America Warm-Up As Pulisic Shines

The United States concluded their Copa America preparations with a 1-1 draw against Brazil on Wednesday. Christian Pulisic scored a fine free-kick, drilling a low effort beyond Alisson 26 minutes into the match. This came after a mazy run ended with him being fouled by Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes on the edge of the area.

A full-strength Brazil side had taken the lead nine minutes earlier when Raphinha split the hosts' defence with a precise pass to Rodrygo, who beat Matt Turner at his near post. Shortly after half-time, Rodrygo nearly scored again with an acrobatic effort, but neither side managed to find a second-half winner.

Both goalkeepers played crucial roles in maintaining the scoreline. Alisson made an excellent stop to deny Pulisic shortly after the hour mark, while Turner responded by tipping Rodrygo's outside-of-the-boot effort to safety. Turner’s performance was particularly notable, as his 11 saves were the most by a USMNT goalkeeper since Tim Howard made 15 saves against Belgium in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

11 - Matt Turner's 11 saves vs. Brazil are the most by a #USMNT goalkeeper since Tim Howard made 15 saves vs. Belgium in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Stopper. pic.twitter.com/hRRIERTrGI

— OptaJack (@OptaJack) June 13, 2024

Vinicius Junior fired across goal and off-target deep into stoppage time, leaving Brazil to settle for a draw just 12 days before their Copa opener against Costa Rica. The USA will begin their campaign against Bolivia in Texas on June 22.

If the USA are to enjoy a successful Copa campaign on home soil, they will need Pulisic to maintain his form after an encouraging first season with Milan. He is developing a knack for scoring against CONMEBOL opponents, having now netted versus Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Venezuela.

Pulisic is just the third American man to achieve this feat, following in the footsteps of Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. His performance will be crucial as the USA aims for success in the upcoming tournament.