Host United States became the first team to reach the Copa America Centenario Semifinals after their contentious 2-1 victory against Ecuador Thursday night at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.
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The United State of America settled its spot in the knockout rounds of the Copa America Centenario taking after a 2-1 win over Ecuador on Thursday.
There was plenty of drama in the 52nd minute which brought both teams down to 10 men after Ecuadors Antonio Valencia kicked out Alejandro Bedoyas legs. Dempsey then was a main catalyst again on the attack in the 65th minute as Bobby Wood kept the ball alive and connected with Dempsey who edged one past the goaltender as Gyasi Zardes knocked it in at the goal line to put the US up 2-0 at that point.
U.S. legend Clint Dempsey, form Fulham star who now plays his club football for the Seattle Sounders, nodded in the opening goal after 22 minutes from a well placed Bobby Wood cross – sending the Seattle crowd into raptures. But Michael Arroyo’s 74th minute goal from a set piece set up a nervy finish, one that saw Enner Valencia squander some clear chances.
Jones was ejected and, not long later, American striker Bobby Wood picked up a deserved yellow and will miss the semifinal because of an accumulation of cards.
The U.S. advances to face the victor of Saturday’s Argentina-Venezuela quarterfinal, setting up a potential clash with the world’s top player, the Argentine Lionel Messi. “They are learning with every game we can play in this type of an environment”.
Dempsey broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, rising high and finishing off Jermaine Jones’ cross with a pinpoint header.
USA’s Gyasi Zardes is at the center of the hug after his goal.
In Jones’ case, it was a 52nd minute straight red card for his involvement in a dead ball altercation, though U.S. Soccer is considering an appeal.
The Americans will next meet the victor of Saturday’s Argentina-Venezuela encounter on June 21 in Houston. “Sometime you will get a loss, like against Brazil, but then you go over a stretch of the last couple of years to Italy, Bosnia, Holland, Mexico – Azteca, finally – and that’s where you grow”.
US coach Jurgen Klinsmann inserted Besler into the lineup at left back and flopped Fabian Johnson to fill Yedlin’s spot on the right side. Those absences, plus the limited players in line to replace them, means the USA will look a lot different than they have so far this tournament, in personnel and in playing style.
With a defender pressuring, Wood dropped a pass back to set up Jones’ cross from the right. A huge blow to the U.S.
U.S. will now face either Argentina or Venezuela in Houston for a place in the finals.
“It’s always great to do it when you’re at home”, Dempsey said. Jones can not play in the Semifinal. We’re going to keep wishing, we’re going to give everything we can, we’re going to try and get to the final, we want to win it. It was an act of frustration, and, in the aftermath, American midfielder Jermaine Jones connected lightly to the chin of Ecuador’s Michael Arroyo. He will be tough to replace, but at least Klinsmann will have the services of DeAndre Yedlin back on defense.
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The match was far from over though, with an Ecuadorian free-kick finding Arroyo who put the ball past Guzan to end the American goalkeeper’s scoreless streak of 301 minutes.
