The first game was Paraguay-USA. The winner would advance to the next result, while the other would be eliminated. In the 11th minute, Paraguay had a 3-on-1 counterattack chance, but US defender John Brooks blocked Miguel Almiron's shot. Clint Dempsey had a free kick go over the bar minutes later, but Dempsey would find the net in the 27th. Gyasi Zardes was against 2 defenders on the end line, but managed to pass the ball into the box, where Dempsey struck it home for a 1-0 lead. After US keeper Brad Guzan stifled a header from close range, Paraguay had yet another chance to score when Dario Lezcano was alone with Guzan, but once again Guzan stopped the shot. Tempers became loud as DeAndre Yedlin of the US got two yellows seconds apart after two tackles on the Miguel's, the first on Almiron, the second on Samudio. Nevertheless, US still had chances including a Zardes chance that went straight to the keeper. Paraguay would still have chances, though Guzan came up big with 2 shots saved with his feet from Almiron and Jorge Benitez. Paraguay found the net in the 89th, but the goal was offside and disallowed, allowing the US to win and move on.
With the US win, Costa Rica was eliminated but still going strong. Colombia had 10 of its starters rested because of the clinched berth, but it determined Colombia's place. In the 2nd, Costa Rica's Johan Venegas curled one into the far right post for a quick lead. Five minutes later, Frank Fabra got a nice pass and poked the ball past Costa Rican keeper Pat Pemberton. Fabra would score another one, but this one was an own goal after accidently hitting a Costa Rican cross into the wrong net. Costa Rica kept the scoring going in the 58th when Celso Borges fired in a Bryan Oveido cross. Colombia would get one back with Marlos Moreno's header, but Costa Rica held on for the win. Colombia, because of the loss, finished 2nd, and the US ended 1st.
No comments:
Post a Comment