US heartened despite defeat in Copa America consolation

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Not quite a victory for the United States. Just a good enough effort to leave the team feeling better about itself.

Carlos Bacca beat 37-year-old goalkeeper Tim Howard by sliding to poke in a headed cross in the 31st minute, and the U.S. finished fourth in the Copa America with a 1-0 defeat against Colombia on Saturday night.

After losing to Argentina 4-0 in the semifinals, the 31st-ranked U.S. was beaten by No. 3 Colombia for the second time in the 16-nation tournament. But the Americans gave a far better performance this time.

“We didn’t get played off the pitch tonight,” defender Geoff Cameron said. “If anything, I thought we dominated the game. I thought we had a lot of chances that we just didn’t put in.”

The U.S. outshot Colombia 10-9 and had 49 percent possession. Bobby Wood, back after a one-game suspension, came closest to scoring for the U.S. when he hit a post in the 62nd, one minute after Colombia’s Juan Cuadrado hit the underside of the crossbar.

The U.S. matched its previous best finish in the tournament, when it lost to Colombia in the 1995 fourth-place game at Uruguay.

“After six weeks being on the road to pull up a performance like that in a meaningless third-place game in a certain way,” Klinsmann said, “I think they deserve a huge, huge complement.”

Colombia, which never has won the Copa America, finished third for the fourth time but first since 1995. Argentina plays Chile for the title on Sunday at East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Both teams finished a man short, when American defender Michael Orozco and Colombian defender Santiago Arias were ejected for a confrontation in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. Orozco is suspended the U.S.’s World Cup qualifier at St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sept. 2.

Klinsmann inserted Howard into his lineup in place of Brad Guzan, who had started the previous nine games.