U.S. advances to Copa America semifinals
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The United States’ Bobby Wood, who was born in Hawaii, and Ecuador’s Arturo Mina charged for the ball in the first half.
SEATTLE >> The Pacific Northwest put its mark on a massive victory by the United States national team today.
The USA advanced to the semifinals of Copa America Centenario with a 2-1 win over Ecuador, the 12-ranked team in the world.
Seattle Sounder Clint Dempsey figured in both goals — scoring the first and assisting the second. And the whole thing played out before the sights and sounds of 47,322 chanting, singing fans at CenturyLink Field.
Dempsey put the USA ahead in the 22nd minute. The play began with Hawaii-born Bobby Wood near the end line tapping the ball back to Jermaine Jones just outside the box. Jones launched it across the box to head of Dempsey, who finished from just inside the penalty spot.
The game turned dramatically in the 52nd minute, when red cards were issued to a player from each team. The incident began with Ecuador’s Antonia Valencia tripping Alejandro Bedoya on a run down the left side. Jones and players from both teams clustered, with some pushing. Valencia was shown his second yellow card, and Jones a straight red, which set up a 10-on-10 stretch run.
Wood will miss the semifinal, as well, for a yellow-card suspension after being booked shortly after the dueling reds.
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The USA lead doubled in the 65th minute, this time with Dempsey sending a shot across the goal with Gyasi Zardes directing it in at the far post.
Ecuador halved that lead in the 74th minute, with Michael Arroyo firing a shot from the top of the penalty area.
The result sends the USA on to the quarterfinals and a Tuesday match against the Argentina-Venezuela winner.
