“Clint is special and he showed that tonight”, USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann said.
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This was expected to be an even game once it started, and Ecuador made that possible despite Dempsey’s opening goal. But Dempsey has been brilliant in this competition, and a head-to-head meeting with Messi & Co.in the semifinals is his likely reward.
Ecuador nearly found an equaliser in first-half stoppage time but Brad Guzan produced a brilliant save to deny Arroyo, keeping United States of America ahead going into the break.
At the 22nd minute, team captain Clint Dempsey scores a goal for US MNT!
In his three games in the tournament thus far, Dempsey has scored two goals and assisted on two other for U.S., while Valencia has also scored twice and assisted on two for the South Americans.
Clint Dempsey has played in two World Cups, beat Spain in the semifinals of a Confederations Cup and participated in a Europe League final.
The U.S. played some of its best soccer in a long time in the first half as it built a deserved 1-0 halftime lead that could have been bigger.
Turning point: The 51st minute served as an odd point in the match when Jones and Valencia were both shown red cards. Jermaine Jones threatens Antonio Valencia with a swinging fist in the latter’s face.
Referee Wilmar Roldan also ejected Ecuador coach Guztavo Quinteros in the 90th minute.
Jermaine Jones is the second player for US MNT that gets a suspension. On the plus side, the USA will get DeAndre Yedlin back from his one-game suspension. Wood has accumulated too many yellows and will have to sit out a game.
Enner Valencia had hearts in American mouths two minutes later when he headed wide from close range.
Enner goes for another goal at the 76th minute, quite free as he found a lapse in USA’s defense. Fighting off a Fernando Gaibor challenge, the Seattle Sounders star directed the ball with his left foot to the far post, where Zardes was located for the simplest of tap-ins.
Excellent defensive work allowed the USMNT to hold onto the 2-1 lead and head to the Copa America semifinals.
As it turned out, the United States of America struck first for a vital insurance goal in the 65th minute. And on the rare instances Ecuador was able to get the ball to the other end, the US would win back possession and unleash a blistering counterattack.
However, Arroyo’s effort is wasted as Ecuador loses.
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The three absences will be rough on the USA, who have leaned very heavily on all of them in this tournament.
