United States forward Clint Dempsey converted a low cross from Gyasi Zardes in the 27th minute as the hosts had the better of the early exchanges.
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A goal from Sounders star Clint Dempsey was enough Saturday night to propel the U.S. Men’s National Team over Paraguay in Philadelphia and into the quarterfinals of the Copa America Centenario Thursday at CenturyLink Field – possibly against Brazil.
“Then he just lost his head for a second”, the German continued. A usa attack in the 23rd minute resulted in a hand ball violation just outside the Paraguay penalty box.
Dempsey scored for the second straight game, getting his 51st worldwide goal in the 27th minute to move six behind Landon Donovan’s American scoring record.
But the lingering memory of the last truly major US knockout-round game (Gold Cup excluded)-a 2-1 extra-time loss to Belgium at World Cup 2014-is of the Americans being so outplayed by Belgium that they needed a superhuman performance by goalkeeper Tim Howard to stay in the match.
Up next for the Americans will be either Brazil, Peru or Ecuador with Brazil being the most likely quarterfinal opponent.
Pekerman and Co. looked to be in control of the group after seeing off the United States and Paraguay ahead of their final group game against Costa Rica, but their complacency was punished as they finished behind the hosts in disappointing circumstances, setting up a potential quarter-final clash with Brazil in the process. Colombia used this opportunity to give minutes to the players who have not been able to play yet, and this might have cost them the first place. It was the unlikeliest of results, the one that seemed so far from possible after the USA battered the Ticos 4-0 in their last match and Colombia cruised through their first two.
Gyasi Zardes created the game’s only goal when he received a pass from Michael Bradley, ran down the left flank and slowed. By the end referee Julio Bascunan had issued six yellow cards to the home side, as well as the red for Yedlin, who will be suspended for the team’s next match.
Paraguay threatened to score a few times, including a goal that was called offsides in the 88th minute.
Villar couldn’t do much to save the shot of Clint Dempsey who was left unmarked at the penalty spot midway through the first half.
Colombia’s Marlos Moreno made it 3-2 with 17 minutes remaining, but they could not find an equalizer.
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HOUSTON – Johan Venegas and Celso Borges each scored and Costa Rica benefited from an own goal by Colombia in a upset victory to wrap up Group A play. Fabra scored Colombia’s own-goal in the first half to give Costa Rica a lead it would not relinquish.
