The USMNT had no problems in their second Group A game, shutting out Costa Rica 4-0. With the USMNT needing the points after an opening game loss to Colombia, the team delivered early. A foul on Bobby Wood in the box setup a 7th minute penalty converted by Clint Dempsey. It was Dempsey's 50th goal for the USMNT. Dempsey assisted on Jermaine Jones's goal in the 37th minute. Wood made it 3-0 USMNT in the 42nd.
USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann went with the same starting lineup he used against Colombia and relied on veteran substitutions. Klinsmann brought on Graham Zusi, Chris Wondolowski, and Kyle Beckerman who almost immediately came up with a big clearance. Zusi scored the fourth goal for the USMNT in the 87th minute. Brad Guzan picked up the shutout.
The USMNT moves to Philadelphia for their final group stage game on Saturday, playing Paraguay (7pm ET - Fox Sports 1). The top two teams from Group A advance to the knockout round with goal difference the first tiebreaker followed by goals scored.
In the other Group A game, a red card helped Colombia see off a late comeback in their 2-1 win over Paraguay. Colombia looked strong during the first-half, with Carlos Bacca scoring in the 12th minute at James Rodriguez doubling the lead in the 30th. Paraguay began to see chances in the second-half, leading to Victor Ayala's goal in the 71st. A red card to Oscar Romero in the 81st left Paraguay with ten men. Colombia advances to the knockout round with six points. The USMNT is in 2nd-place with three points. Paraguay and Costa Rica each have a point.
-- GAME REPORT --
Match: U.S. Men's National Team vs. Costa Rica
Date: June 7, 2016
Competition: 2016 Copa America Centenario - Group A
Venue: Soldier Field; Chicago, Illinois
Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT
Attendance: 39,642
Weather: 62 degrees, cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 3 1 4
CRC 0 0 0
USA - Clint Dempsey (penalty kick) 9th minute
USA - Jermaine Jones (Clint Dempsey) 37
USA - Bobby Wood (Clint Dempsey) 42
USA - Graham Zusi 87
Lineups:
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 20-Geoff Cameron, 6-John Brooks, 23-Fabian Johnson; 11-Alejandro Bedoya (15-Kyle Beckerman, 83), 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 13-Jermaine Jones; 9-Gyasi Zardes, 8-Clint Dempsey (18-Chris Wondolowski, 78), 7-Bobby Wood (19-Graham Zusi, 70)
Subs not used: 3-Steve Birnbaum, 5-Matt Besler, 10-Darlington Nagbe, 12-Tim Howard, 14-Michael Orozco, 16-Perry Kitchen, 17-Christian Pulisic, 21-Edgar Castillo, 22-Ethan Horvath
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
CRC : 18-Patrick Pemberton; 16-Cristian Gamboa (15-José Salvatierra, 46), 6-Óscar Duarte, 2-Johnny Acosta, 3-Francisco Calvo, 22-Rónald Matarrita; 5-Celso Borges, 7-Christian Bolaños ; 10 Bryan Ruiz (capt.), 12-Joel Campbell (14-Randall Azofeifa, 46), 21-Marco Ureña (9- Álvaro Saborio, 18)
Subs not used: 1-Dany Carvajal, 4-Michael Umaña, 8-Bryan Oviedo, 11-Johan Venegas, 13-Esteban Granados, 17-Yeltsin Tejeda, 19-Kendall Waston, 20-Johnny Woodly, 23-Leonel Moreira
Head C oach: Óscar Ramírez
Stats Summary: USA / CRC
Shots: 10 / 7
Shots on Goal: 5 / 3
Saves: 3 / 1
Corner Kicks: 2 / 4
Fouls: 10 / 14
Offside: 3 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
USA - Fabian Johnson 44
USA - John Brooks 81
Officials:
Referee: Roddy Zambrano (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Byron Romero (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Luis Vera (ECU)
4th Official: John Pitti (PAN)
