By Steven Agen
The US Men’s National Team righted the ship on Tuesday night, defeating Costa Rica 4-0 in Copa America Centenario group stage action at Soldier Field in Chicago. The win vaults the hosts to the top of Group X, at least until Colombia complete their match against Paraguay later in the evening. Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann relieved some of the immense pressure on him despite starting the same lineup as the one that lost 2-0 to Colombia on Friday.
Clint Dempsey opened the scoring from the penalty mark on nine minutes after winning the spot kick himself. DeAndre Yedlin scampered down the right wing and floated a cross to the far post, which Dempsey rose to meet. Christian Gamboa put two hands into the striker’s back, and referee Zambrano Olmedo pointed to the spot. Dempsey stepped up and finished authoritatively to the bottom right corner,scoring his fiftieth goal for the Stars and Stripes. He finished the match with two goals and an assist and was clearly took Man of the Match honors, even if tournament organizers gave them to Jermaine Jones.
Jermaine Jones doubled the advantage on 37’, cutting in and slamming a Dempsey pass into the net from 25 yards out on the left side. The Colorado Rapid struck the ball low to the far post with his right foot and left Dany Carvajal with little chance.
Carvajal would want USA’s third goal back, though, after he got his fingertips to Bobby Wood’s first Copa America Centenario goal. Again it was Dempsey playing distributor, slipping the ball to Wood before he finished at the near post. It marked the end of a near-perfect first half from the Yankees. It would be cruise-control for them the rest of the way.
Graham Zusi added one more late for good measure, stealing the ball in the attacking third and finishing from the center of the area on 88’. Bryan Ruiz had nearly pulled a goal back for the visitors when he hit the left hand post with a header in the 67th minute. It also served as Costa Rica’s best chance on the night in what was a relatively muted display from them.
The will United States complete their group stage docket against Paraguay on Saturday, knowing a win will put them through. Costa Rica must hope for results to fall against the USA and for a win against Colombia, also on Saturday.
USMNT
Copa America
