U.S. takes group
In Copa America quarterfinals after win
PHILADELPHIA — Protecting a lead after Clint Dempsey’s first-half goal, the U.S. men’s national soccer team’s Copa America planning suddenly was upended.
DeAndre Yedlin got a pair of yellow cards 57 seconds apart early in the second half for two rash tackles, forcing the U.S. to play a man short against Paraguay for what turned out to be 49 minutes.
Defenders held the back line, goalkeeper Brad Guzan made a double save in the 82nd minute, and the U.S. held on for a 1-0 victory Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field to reach the Copa America quarterfinals.
“We stuck today,” defender Geoff Cameron said. “Everybody sacrificed.”
Hosting a special expanded 100th-anniversary edition of South America’s championship, the Americans (2-1) won Group A on goal difference over Colombia (2-1), which later was upset, 3-2, by already eliminated Costa Rica. By finishing first, the Americans might avoid a quarterfinal matchup with Brazil.
The U.S. plays Thursday night at Seattle, most likely against Ecuador or Peru, with the matchup to be determined by tonight’s Group B finales.
“I think that we could possibly do something special here,” Dempsey said.
With the Americans playing for the third time in nine days, U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann started the same lineup for the third straight game — something done only once before in U.S. national team history, in its three matches at the 1930 World Cup.
Dempsey scored for the second straight game, getting his 51st international goal in the 27th minute to move six behind Landon Donovan’s American scoring record.
Gyasi Zardes received a pass from Michael Bradley, ran down the left flank and slowed. Marked by Paulo Da Silva, who made his record 137th appearance for Paraguay, and Victor Ayala, Zardes spurted to the end line and crossed the ball. Dempsey sprinted into the penalty area as a trailing runner and, from 8 yards out, one-timed a left-footed shot past the leg of sliding defender Fabian Balbuena and under the left arm of diving goalkeeper Justo Villar.
Yedlin got his first yellow in the 47th for a slide tackle from the side into Miguel Almiron near the center circle. When play resumed, he raised a foot and charged into Miguel Samudio near a sideline. Chilean referee Julio Bascunan immediately gave a second yellow. Because of goal difference, Paraguay needed to win in order to advance. Michael Orozco entered to replace Yedlin at right back in the 50th, and Dempsey came off as the U.S. prepared to survive an onslaught during the rest of the half.
“It’s huge discipline. It’s huge work rate,” Guzan said. “Everyone needs to be on the same page. And when you play a man down in the conditions like they were tonight … it’s always going to be hard.”
With Paraguay pressing, Klinsmann often turned to try to spur on the announced 51,041. Later, he reveled in one of the team’s bigger wins since he took over in 2011.
“This,” he said, “is a huge statement to teams in South America or whoever watches it on TV.”