Recaps: USA-Costa Rica and Colombia-Paraguay

              After a disappointing loss last Friday, the US needed a result to advance out of the group. Indeed they did, beating the los ticos 4-0. The US took the lead off a PK from Clint Dempsey in the 9th minute. The PK was awarded when Bobby Wood got pushed down from Christian Gamboa during a USA cross. The goal turned down the early pace Costa Rica had, and suddenly the US had the more of possession. Gyasi Zardes had some chances for the US, but he failed to convert. It was 2-0 when Dempsey ran down the field with the ball, before passing to an open Jermaine Jones, whose far right shot went inside the net and past the hand of Costa Rica's keeper Pat Pemberton. It was three-nil in the 42nd minute, 5 minutes after the second goal, when Dempsey got another assisting after passing to Wood, who was just in the box and fired one to Pemberton's right. He got a piece of it, but the ball redirected into the net. In the last half, Costa Rica started to own more possession, but couldn't produce goals. They got close in the 67th, when Bryan Ruiz had a header hit the left post. Graham Zusi, a late sub, made it 4-0 in the 87th when he stole the ball and shot it to his right, just past Pemberton. The US is currently 2nd place in Group A.
           The later game was Colombia-Paraguay. Like the US, Colombia got off to a fast start in the 12th minute. James Rodriguez sent in a nice corner, and defender Carlos Bacca headed it in for a 1-0 lead. In the 30th, Rodriguez would score after a chaotic turn of events. After a turnover by Paraguay, Colombia had some tricky passing in the box, before it sent Rodriguez open in the box striking a blazing shot past keeper Justo Villar. Paraguay would come close many times but it was not enough. In the last play of the first half, Dario Lezcano's free kick caromed of the crossbar. Another play came when David Ospina of Colombia robbed Victor Ayala's crowded header in traffic. Ayala would bring his team within 1 with his beatifully executed long range shot in the 71st, but their comeback ended when Oscar Romero got two yellows in the 79th and 81st, putting Paraguay to 10. With the win, Colombia has advanced to the quarterfinals.