With the Copa America being staged outside of South America for the first time, there was plenty of hype surrounding US but the host nation were left silenced as captain James Rodriguez and Cristian Zapata inspired Colombia in the Group A opener at Levi’s Stadium.
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The game was the opener of the Centenario, the 100th-anniversary edition of the South American championships, a 16-team, 23-day tournament that is being played in the usa for the first time.
James Rodriguez, the Colombian superstar, stepped up to take the penalty kick and beat Guzan to his left to make it 2-0.
The Stars and Stripes defeated by Colombia at Levi’s Stadium, Copa America Group stage by 0-2.
Alejandro Bedoya of the United States argues with referee Roberto García Orozco, after he awarded a penalty to Colombia during the opening match of the Copa America Centenario at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, June. Still, the American will look to remain upbeat and try to dig themselves out of the early hole they find themselves in. True, the first match was the most hard, against a Colombia team ranked third in the world – the United States is No. 31 – and superior at most every position.
Cardona opened the second half with another long-range chance, which Guzan didn’t handle particularly well, the ball bouncing off his chest and back into the path of the Colombian attack, where Cameron perhaps got away with a foul in the box to clear the danger.
USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann defended his team’s effort, telling reporters, “I was absolutely okay with the team performance”.
Just hours before the start of the tournament, the Copa America Centenario Local Organizing Committee confirmed that it has received written approval from Federation Internationale de Football Association to allow a fourth substitution in the final if the game heads into extra time. But the Ticos were World Cup quarterfinalists two summers ago and, even without injured Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas, they possess the attacking skills and experience capable of crushing the USA team’s quarterfinal hopes. “He was really fighting that fight very positively ’til the very last second, so we wish that one goes in then you build on that one”.
“I got picked on the inside”, Cameron explained. I’ve dealt with it before, and I’ll take responsibility.
For the US, the win was a watershed moment for the soccer program.
US players argue with the referee after DeAndre Yedlin was whistled for a handball in the penalty area. “We have to win”, Cameron said.
Costa Rica is in must-win mode, too, after a scoreless draw with Paraguay on Saturday in Orlando.
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Yet, for all the feel-good praise, US soccer appears to have a long road ahead in Klinsmann’s fifth season in charge. Dempsey’s long-range free-kick was acrobatically saved by goalkeeper David Ospina in the 64th-minute.
