A red card early in the second-half didn't stop the USMNT from not only beating Paraguay on Saturday, but winning Group A of the Copa Centenario. The USMNT advances to play Group B runners-up Ecuador on June 16 at Seattle's CenturyLink Field.
The USMNT shutout Paraguay 1-0 in Philadelphia. Gyasi Zardes connected with Clint Dempsey in the box for the game's only goal in the 27th minute. It wasn't easy for the USMNT, who needed a big tackle from John Brooks in their box to breakup a Paraguay opportunity in the 11th minute. Two quick yellow cards to DeAndre Yedlin left the USMNT down a man from the 48th, but the USMNT held on for the three points.
In the other Group A finale, Costa Rica beat Colombia 3-2 in a game that Colombia used to get minutes for their bench players. Colombia made ten changes and paid for it, turning what should have been an easy route to Seattle into second-place and a game against the Group B winners Peru in East Rutherford.
-- GAME REPORT --
Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Paraguay
Date: June 11, 2016
Competition: 2016 Copa America Centenario - Group A
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field; Philadelphia, Pa.
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Attendance: 51,041
Weather: 88 degrees, cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 0 1
PAR 0 0 0
USA – Clint Dempsey (Gyasi Zardes) 27th minute
Lineups:
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 20-Geoff Cameron, 6-John Brooks, 23-Fabian Johnson; 11-Alejandro Bedoya (19-Graham Zusi, 75), 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 13-Jermaine Jones; 9-Gyasi Zardes, 8-Clint Dempsey (14-Michael Orozco, 50), 7-Bobby Wood (15-Kyle Beckerman, 83)
Subs not used: 3-Steve Birnbaum, 5-Matt Besler, 10-Darlington Nagbe, 12-Tim Howard, 16-Perry Kitchen, 17-Christian Pulisic, 18-Chris Wondolowski, 21-Edgar Castillo, 22-Ethan Horvath
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
PAR: 1-Justo Villar; 14-Paulo Da Silva, 3-Gustavo Gomez, 2-Fabian Balbuena (15-Juan Iturbe, 46), 6-Miguel Samudio; 10-Derlis Gonzalez, 20-Victor Ayala, 16-Celso Ortiz (8-Rodrigo Rojas, 55); 17- Miguel Almiron; 9-Antonio Sanabria (7-Jorge Benitez, 63), 19-Dario Lezcano
Subs not used: 4-Ivan Piris, 5-Bruno Valdez, 11-Edgar Benitez, 12-Antony Silva, 13-Blas Riveros, 18-Nelson Haedo Valdez, 22-Diego Barreto, 23-Robert Piris Da Motta
Head Coach: Ramon Diaz
Stats Summary: USA / PAR
Shots: 5 / 9
Shots on Goal: 3 / 7
Saves: 7 / 2
Corner Kicks: 3 / 8
Fouls: 20 / 15
Offside: 1 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
PAR - Celso Ortiz (caution) 13th minute
USA - DeAndre Yedlin (caution) 47
USA - DeAndre Yedlin (caution) 48
USA - DeAndre Yedlin (ejection) 48
PAR - Rodrigo Rojas (caution) 71
USA - Bobby Wood (caution) 72
PAR - Victor Ayala (caution) 78
USA - Michael Orozco (caution) 79
USA - Jermaine Jones (caution) 87
Officials:
Referee: Julio Bascunan (CHI)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Astroza (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Schliemann (CHI)
4th Official: John Pitti (PAN)
