USA Beats Ecuador 2-1 To Advance To Copa America Semifinals For First Time Since 1995

Clint Dempsey scored for the third consecutive game and set up Gyasi Zardes for a tap-in goal to lead the United States to a 2-1 victory over Ecuador in Seattle on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Copa America.

USA Beats Ecuador 2-1 To Advance To Copa America Semifinals For First Time Since 1995

The US is now in the semifinals for the first time in 21 years. The only other US appearance in the Copa semifinals came in 1995, when it advanced to the final four by defeating Mexico, but was then eliminated by Brazil.

“Clint is special,” U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said of Dempsey. “He showed that tonight. He showed that the last couple of weeks. He showed that throughout his entire career.”

The team played before a loud and US fan-dominated crowd of 47,322 at CenturyLink Field. The game marked the second time the US won a knockout match against a country outside its region, the first time being against Spain in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2009. It will play either Argentina or Venezuela in Houston on Tuesday.

Dempsey scored the opening goal in the 22nd minute. After picking up the ball in the center of the offensive half, played Bobby Wood into the Ecuador box before being taken down by a tackle. Wood ran the ball down, faced up his defender and played a pass to Jermaine Jones at the top right corner of the box, where the midfielder one-timed a lofted ball into the middle of Ecuador’s defense. Dempsey made a late run into the box and leapt between two defenders to head the ball past goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez and into the right side of the net for a 1-0 US lead.

The 33-year-old Seattle Sounders forward, whose place on the US team was debated earlier this year, said he was blessed as he scored a goal in the city he knows all too well.

“I’ve been blessed that I was able to step up and, hopefully, I can keep going,” said Dempsey, who scored his 52nd international goal, just five behind Landon Donovan’s American record. “I thought we played well. I thought we created some good chances in front of goal. We were unlucky not to score more.”

Zardes doubled the US’s lead in the 65th minute. Matt Besler crossed to the back post, looking for Zardes. A deflected header fell to Dempsey, who beat his man and sent the ball across the face of goal to where Zardes was unmarked to easily tap in the goal.

Michael Arroyo scored for Ecuador in the 74th minute. Ecuador won a free kick near the right US. corner flag. Walter Ayovi played the ball on the ground to the top center of the U.S. box where Arroyo met it with a low, one-time shot through the US defense and into the bottom right corner of Brad Guzan’s goal.

Enner Valencia then missed a pair of great chances for Ecuador on two headers in the 76th and 77th minutes. Defenseman John Brooks nearly had an own goal in the first minute of stoppage time, only to see the ball deflected wide by Guzan.

“At that point, every guy needed everything they had on the field, ready to do whatever it takes and just play with a collective willingness to suffer and just make sure we’re walking off the field winners,” said U.S. captain Michael Bradley, who wore a rainbow armband in honor of those killed in the gay nightclub shooting in Orlando last weekend. “That’s certainly what pulled us through.”

The second half was a chippy one: Jones was given a red card during a confrontation in the 52nd minute that also saw Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia thrown out following a second yellow card for a harsh tackle on Alejandro Bedoya along the sideline.

U.S. players immediately rushed in to the scrum after Valencia’s tackle, and Jones raised an arm at Arroyo. Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan immediately showed a red card to Jones.

Klinsmann was furious at the red card, blaming the decision on fourth official Wilton Sampaio on the sideline.

“It was an absolute joke,” the US coach said.

Jones will be suspended for the semifinal along with Bedoya and Wood, both of whom received their second yellow cards of the tournament.

Ecuador coach Gustavo Quinteros also appeared to be sent off in the 90th minute for vehemently protesting the officiating.

Dominguez made a big save on a low shot from the box from Bedoya in the 41st minute, and Guzan also had a big stop on a shot from Arroyo in the additional stoppage-time minute of the first half.

Argentina and Venezuela will play on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium, so the U.S. will now have two extra days of rest.

PHOTO: SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 16: Clint Dempsey #8 of the United States follows the play against against Ecuador during the 2016 Quarterfinal – Copa America Centenario match at CenturyLink Field on June 16, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)