And so the USA move on to the semi-finals (even if Bedoya, Jones and Wood do not). Thanks as always for following along with us and be sure to check out Steve Brenner’s full match report from Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.
This is only the USA’s fourth ever win in the knockout stage of a major tournament. The previous three: the semi-final win over Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup, the round of 16 triumph over Mexico at the 2002 World Cup and their victory on penalties over Mexico in the 1995 Copa América.
Clint Dempsey has been named man of the match. Not only did he score for the third time in three games, but the veteran midfielder has been involved in every USA goal at this year’s Copa América except one.
Full-time: USA 2-1 Ecuador
There it is! The United States are through to the semi-finals of Copa América after holding on for a 2-1 win over Ecuador. The match will take place on Tuesday in Houston against the winner of Saturday’s quarter-final between Argentina and Venezuela.
90 min+4: As Klinsmann tries to make a sub, the corner is sent into the area where it caroms around for an agonizing period before an Ecuador player sends it wide of the target.
90 min+3: Yet another attack by Ecuador busted up by Brooks, who clears the ball past the halfway line. Moments later Ecuador win a corner.
Updated
90 min+1: Oh dear. Brooks nearly deflects a cross in for an own goal, forcing Guzan to make a save. Still 2-1!
90 min: The Ecuadorian bench did not like that call and made their displeasure known by throwing bottles onto the field. That prompts the referee to send off manager Gustavo Quinteros. Whoops. There will be four minutes of stoppage time.
#USAvECU: Se cumplen los 90' y se agregan 4'. @ussoccer 2-1 @FEFecuador. #CopaAmerica #UDCentenario pic.twitter.com/06BI1KcF7u
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) June 17, 2016
Updated
89 min: Arroyo surges down the right flank and beats his man, but reverses tack and is briefly dispossessed and fouls Zardes while trying to recover.
88 min: Another note from Scott Bassett, via email:
I’ve switched from beer to whisky. This is too much.
#PrayForScott
86 min: Stressful moment for the USA as an errant back pass pulls Guzan well off his line and he’s forced to lunge for it in the face of an onrushing Ecuadorian player. These last few minutes and stoppage time could be a white-knuckler.
84 min: Paredes comes out for Jamie Ayovi, Ecuador’s final sub. Meanwhile, Guzan is show yellow for time-wasting.
83 min: (As Ecuador batter away, it’s worth remembering that under Copa América rules, the teams will go straight to penalties if tied after 90 minutes without playing a half hour of extra time.)
81 min: A fracas near the touchline – apparently over a throw-in? – is broken up without a booking. Moments later an exhausted-looking Bedoya comes off for Graham Zusi.
79 min: Moments after Beckerman replaces Dempsey for the USA’s first substitution of the night, Ecuador continue to apply heavy pressure on the USA back four. Walter Ayovi puts a shot on goal but it’s off target.
76 min: Enner Valencia strolls into the area completely unmarked and sends a header inches over the bar. How did he not score! A profoundly bad lapse of focus for USA, who are lucky it’s not 2-2.
#USAvECU: Al 75', cerca Enner Valencia de empatar para @FEFecuador. https://t.co/o3JPw9k92p pic.twitter.com/ZNArKXdm51
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) June 17, 2016
Updated
GOAL! USA 2-1 Ecuador (Arroyo, 74 min)
Not over yet! Ecuador score off a set piece when a free kick is sent to the top of the area, where Arroyo thuds a low-drifting shot that beats Guzan to his right. The American keeper’s scoreless streak ends at 301 minutes.
Updated
73 min: Bedoya shown yellow for a foul and now he’ll too miss the semi-final if the USA close this out.
72 min: Ramirez is on for Gurezo, Ecuador’s second substitution.
71 min: Fabian Johnson cross is deflected out for a USA corner, but it’s easily cleared.
GOAL! USA 2-0 Ecuador (Zardes, 65 min)
Moments after Pardes is shown yellow for a dangerous play it’s Bobby Wood – once again! – who keys the US attack by running onto a through ball and finds Besler, who sends it into Dempsey. Then Dempsey crosses it toward the far post where it’s tapped into an empty net by Zardes. The US have doubled their pleasure and are roughly a half hour from the semi-finals!
Gyasi Zardes, off the feed from Clint Dempsey, gives the #USMNT some breathing room. #USAvECU #MyCopaColors https://t.co/SxKajJCeJS
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2016
Updated
62 min: Gaibor coming on for an injured Noboa, the first switch of the match for either side.
61 min: Arroyo has a go on goal from the top of the area but it sails over the crossbar. A dangerous time for the United States, who are appearing to tire. A sub coming now for Ecuador.
58 min: Daniel Stauss checks in, via email:
Just when it seemed that Jermaine Jones had maybe matured a teensy little bit in Brazil, where he was admittedly stupendous for us, he goes and gets himself sent off. He will always be a red card waiting to happen.
Le sigh.
56 min: Here’s another look at the fist to the face that earned Jones an early dismissal.
#USAvECU: Jones se llevó la tarjeta roja tras soltar un manotazo a la cara de Arroyo. #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/IaAfNnAMRP
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) June 17, 2016
53 min: Now Wood is shown yellow for a foul. He stays on, but he’ll also miss the semi-final if the USA win tonight.
DOUBLE RED CARDS! Antonio Valencia and Jermaine Jones sent off!
51 min: Interesting series here as Jones and Antonio Valencia get tangled up near the touchline. It appears the Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan is headed to send off Valencia with a second yellow. Indeed, Valencia is sent off, but so is Jermaine Jones on a straight red! Replay confirms Jones put a fist in Arroyo’s face and appeared to swing a little bit. Jones will be out for the semi-finals if USA advance. For now, it’s 10 v 10 in Seattle.
Jermaine Jones pega manotazo en el rostro de Michael Arroyo y se gana la Roja #CopaAmerica En exclusiva por TDN pic.twitter.com/O3DWBTO5tA
— TDN (@tdn_twit) June 17, 2016
Updated
48 min: A clumsy foul by Jermaine Jones gives Ecuador a free kick from a dangerous area near the corner flag. It’s sent short to Enner Valencia, who heads it into the six-yard box just out of range of Antonio Valencia (no relation).
46 min: And we’re off in the second half with no changes for either side. Said Jürgen Klinsmann to Fox Sports at half-time: “We have been fantastic. We haven’t given them anything. These next 20 minutes are crucial for us.”
Half-time: USA 1-0 Ecuador
Dempsey’s 52nd international goal is the difference as a well drilled and opportunistic USA head into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead. Plenty more to come from Seattle.
45 min: No sooner does Kevin Reichelt check in, via Twitter ...
@BryanAGraham Tthe work rate of the #USMNT back line, and the tracking back of the midfield is making Guzan a very bored goal keeper.
— Kevin Reichelt (@KReicheltDC) June 17, 2016
... then a clumsy giveaway by Bradley leads to a breakway by Arroyo, whose tightly angled shot from point-blank range is turned away by Guzan.
44 min: Another attack by USA with Bradley finding Bedoya in acres of space on the left side of the area as the crowd swells, but a perfectly timed tackle by Arturo Mina breaks it up.
42 min: USA on the attack, Dempsey leading the charge up the left side. He slots a pass to Bedoya, but Bedoya’s left-footed shot – not his preferred foot – is struck with little pace and easily wrangled by Dominguez.
39 min: A Teddy Roosevelt sighting among the American Outlaws. Always a crowd-pleaser.
Teddy pic.twitter.com/t6caOmD8gd
— Michael Shamburger (@mshamburger1) June 17, 2016
38 min: Antonio Valencia shown yellow for a high challenge on Brooks, who’s absorbed heaps of punishment tonight.
Don't want to say Ecuador is targeting Brooks, but kinda feels like they're targeting Brooks. He's picked up where he left off vs. Paraguay
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) June 17, 2016
37 min: The corner is easily cleared, but the ball falls to Bradley near the halfway line. Wood has dogged the Ecuador back line all day. A goal seems inevitable at the current rate.
36 min: Bobby Wood again gets behind the Ecuador back far. He’s tackled before he can get a shot off, but wins a corner.
35 min: Brooks appears to be contending with a right elbow issue. What a loss that would be. Staying on for now.
32 min: Ecuador work it down to the final third and keep possession for a series of passes, but can’t crack the USA back line and are dispossessed.
30 min: John Brooks with yet another clearance to break up a clear chance for Arroyo. The 23-year-old is winning everything. A massive destructive presence for the United States, from the Paraguay game since in particular.
27 min: Dempsey nearly scores his second in five minutes! Ecuador’s defenders ceding way too much space in the area, allowing the veteran midfielder to uncork a powerful shot that Dominguez parries away.
GOAL! USA 1-0 Ecuador (Dempsey, 22 min)
Bobby Wood runs onto a through ball and passes to Jermaine Jones, who lofts a cross to Dempsey that Dempsey heads into the back of the net. That’s three goals in as many games for Deuce, who moves into a tie for the lead in the Golden Boot race. A dream start for the hosts.
Clint Dempsey scores his 3rd goal at #CopaAmerica Centenario to put the #USMNT ahead. #USAvECU #MyCopaColors https://t.co/DtNKqz8iLE
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2016
Updated
18 min: An email from Venki Murthy, who writes:
Who’s the more mediocre corner taker in big games – Wayne Rooney or Michael Bradley?
Savage.
17 min: A moment of danger there for Ecuador! Dempsey slots a pass from the midfield through to Bobby Wood, who’s caused Ecuador’s back line fits throughout the first quarter hour, but the youngster can’t get enough foot on it to negotiate it on target.
14 min: Wood wins another corner for the United States. It’s taken by Bradley but Cameron heads it wide of the target.
13 min: For all the hand-wringing about the USA defense with Yedlin out, it’s been quite a solid showing so far. Behold the benefits of continuity with Bradley, Cameron and Brooks playing back there so consistently.
10 min: Fielding a quick email from Scott Bassett, who writes:
Looking over their team sheet, it seems there are two brothers (at least going by their last names). Are Jaime Javier Ayoví Corozo and Walter Orlando Ayoví Corozo actually brothers or is it just a wacky coincidence?
They’re cousins.
8 min: Enner Valencia spending an unnerving amount of time in the area with the ball, but a gaggle of US defenders close in and he’s dispossessed. And just like that another USA counter-attack! But it’s broken up before they can pressure Ecuador’s back four. A fun, wide-open start.
6 min: Montero tests the left back Besler early and curls a shot just over the crossbar, but moments later Bobby Wood keys the USA counter-attack. Lots of back-and-forth action early on.
#USAvECU: 7'. Montero dispara desde fuera del área pero el balón se va desviado. #CopaAmerica #Copa100 pic.twitter.com/piESSCyZG3
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) June 17, 2016
Updated
3 min: USA win the first corner of the match off a Gyasi Zardes shot that’s deflected wide left of the post, but it’s easily corralled by the Ecuadorian keeper.
2 min: Ecuador with the first substantial attack of the match as a midfield looks to send a long ball forward to Enner Velencia, but it’s cut off by Fabian Johnson.
1 min: And they’re off! USA in white shirts with blue sleeves and white shorts attacking from left to right, Ecuador in traditional yellow and blue kits going the other way.
We're underway in Seattle. Let's do this. #USAvECU, 0-0, 1' pic.twitter.com/v81Siz63Ke
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 17, 2016
Anthem time in Seattle. Michael Bradley has taken the field wearing a rainbow-colored captain’s armband in remembrance of the Orlando terror victims.
Michael Bradley wearing a rainbow-colored captain's armband in remembrance of the Orlando victims. pic.twitter.com/v6aGjHw22y
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) June 17, 2016
US Soccer also posted this video yesterday in solidarity with the fallen.
Updated
Not much longer now. If you’re not sufficiently excited for tonight’s match, why not let the dulcet baritone of Kobe Bryant take you over the top? The retired NBA star narrated this hype video for Fox Sports 1, which just aired before cutting away to the players in the tunnel.
One step closer to being the best! @kobebryant sets the stage for #USMNT vs Ecuador, 8pm ET on @FS1. #CopaAmericahttps://t.co/0n2ShFwpeZ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 16, 2016
Kickoff is roughly 20 minutes away. Here’s a few newsy notes ahead of tonight’s meeting:
- The win against Paraguay was the USA’s first against a Conmebol side in Copa América since their famous win over Argentina in 1995.
- This makrs the USA’s first trip to the Copa América knockout stage since 1995, when they reached the third-place match after beating Mexico on penalties in the quarters and losing 1-0 to Brazil in the semis.
- USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan is currently at 227 minutes of play without conceding as the Yanks took clean sheets in their last two matches.
- John Brooks set a Copa América record for clearances (15) against Paraguay and was named man of the match. Aaron Timms wrote about the Hertha Berlin center back this week.
- The Paraguay match marked Clint Dempsey’s 127th cap for the USA, moving him level with Marcelo Balboa for fourth-most in team history.
- Ecuador has yet to lose a match in this tournament. They drew 0-0 with Brazil and 2-2 with Peru in their opening two clashes before rolling past Haiti to finish second in the group.
- Keeper Esteban Dreer was named man of the match against Brazil. The two goals conceded against Peru occurred in the first 15 minutes of the match – otherwise he’s kept a clean sheet.
- This is Ecuador’s first trip to the Copa América quarters since 1997 and only their third ever. They won 3-0 over Paraguay in 1993 and bowed on penalties to Mexico in 1997 after a scoreless draw.
- Ecuador has conceded the most goals of any team in Copa América history (309) and also have the most appearances in the tournament (26) without a win. They’ve yet to finish better than fourth, which happened in both 1959 and 1993.
The teams
Here’s a look at today’s teams. With USA’s first-choice right back DeAndre Yedlin unavailable after picking up a red card in the final group-stage win over Paraguay, Klinsmann has inserted Matt Besler at left back and moved Fabian Johnson to the right side. Michael Orozco, who was broadly speculated as Yedlin’s replacement, will start on the bench.
USA
XI: Guzan; Johnson, Cameron, Brooks, Besler; Bradley, Jones, Bedoya; Zardes, Dempsey, Wood
Substitutes: Birnbaum, Nagbe, Howard, Orozco, Beckerman, Kitchen, Pulisic, Wondolowski, Zusi, Castillo, Horvath
Ecuador
XI: Dominguez; Paredes, Mina, Erazo, W. Ayovi; A. Valencia, Noboa, Gruezo, Montero; E. Valencia, J. Ayovi
Substitutes: Ecuador: Banguera, Ramirez, Gaibor, Martinez, Arroyo, Dreer, Mena, Larrea, Cazares, Arbedola, Achilier, Bolanos
The American Outlaws are on the ground. The national team’s most famous supporters’ group, as profiled by Guardian US before the tournament, have started their walk to the stadium.
Here they come! #AmericanOutlaws #USMNT pic.twitter.com/OoG7IgAgcn
— Jenny Taft (@JennyTaft) June 17, 2016
Preamble
Hello and welcome to tonight’s first Copa América quarter-final between the United States and Ecuador. Los Amarillos enter with an advantage of five wins, three losses and three draws in the all-time series, but all three of USA’s victories have come in their last five meetings, including 1-0 result on a late Darlington Nagbe winner in Dallas only weeks ago.
Tonight’s meeting at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field is a rematch of a Copa América 1993 clash which saw Ecuador win 2-0 at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito.
Now the shoe is on the other foot as USA are hosts. Can Jürgen Klinsmann’s men reverse that result and book a place in the semi-finals, where the winner of Saturday’s match between Argentina and Venezuela will await?
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look at Steve Brenner’s preview of tonight’s match from Seattle.
This time no unhelpful outbursts are needed. Just hours before the previous make or break encounter for Jürgen Klinsmann, the Copa América Centenario group match with Costa Rica, which followed the dispiriting opening defeat to Colombia, the head of US Soccer Sunil Gulati saw it fit to heap more pressure on the German’s shoulders.
More wins was the order from on high. No more chances could slip away. Just what you need four hours before kick-off. The response, however, was rapid and on point. Two wins – 4-0 against Costa Rica and 1-0 against Paraguay – quickly followed, Klinsmann was able to wallow in the afterglow, and now all roads lead to Seattle and a chance to reach the semi-finals of the Copa.
An unchanged line-up for the first three games saw the German, for once, keep his tactical nerve and hit the jackpot. To paraphrase Sir Alex Ferguson: international soccer? Bloody hell.
“It has been a real team effort and the atmosphere from the playing staff to the coaches has been excellent,” goalkeeper Brad Guzan told the Guardian on Wednesday. “We cannot control what happens on the outside and will let others judge on how we are doing.”
But they can control how they play on Thursday night. If they beat Ecuador, Klinsmann will have set up a tantalising semi-final with Argentina in Houston next Tuesday. Ecuador, whose Premier League triumvirate of Antonio Valencia, Enner Valencia and Jefferson Montero will pose a multitude of questions – especially with DeAndre Yedlin suspended following his red card against Paraguay – are an improved team, in form and riding on the crest of a wave.
