8 must-see moments from U.S. Soccer’s thrilling 1-0 win over Paraguay
Dempsey's goal? Check. That Brooks tackle? Got it. Guzan's double save? You bet.
The final whistle in Philadelphia couldn’t have come soon enough for the U.S. men’s national soccer team. Playing with just 10 men for the majority of the second half, the U.S. edged Paraguay, 1-0, on Saturday to seal a spot int the Copa America quarterfinals.
“We stuck together,” U.S. defender Geoff Cameron said, via The Associated Press. “Everybody sacrificed.”
After a 2-0 loss to Colombia in the tournament opener and a 4-0 victory over Costa Rica in their second match, Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. squad arrived in Philadelphia needing a win or a draw to advance to the Copa America quarterfinals for the first time since 1995.
“I think that we could possibly do something special here,” U.S. striker Clint Dempsey said after his goal proved decisive, via ESPN.
From the defensive heroics and sudden ejection to the lone goal, check out the key moments from their tense victory:
U.S. defender John Brooks thwarted a 3-on-1 attack in the 11th minute
.@j_brooks25 with a tackle-and-a-half to thwart a Paraguay counterattack. #USAvPAR #MyCopaColors https://t.co/9NjwlecZNA
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 11, 2016
Clint Dempsey puts the U.S. up 1-0 in the 27th minute
Gyasi Zardes –> Clint Dempsey –> GOAL, #USMNT. #USAvPAR #MyCopaColors https://t.co/aumNF2kGgS
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 11, 2016
U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan denied Paraguay just before halftime
#USAvPAR: 44′. La @Albirroja deja ir el empate. Disparo de Lezcano que se estrella en Guzan. #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/wuXyS33CfE
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) June 11, 2016
The U.S. were down to 10 men after DeAndre Yedlin picked up a pair of yellow cards very early in the second half
Another look at the two fouls that led to DeAndre Yedlin’s red card. #USAvPAR #MyCopaColors https://t.co/Ub9OxxNQS7
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2016
Even the referee needed attention as intensity picked up
Does magic spray work for refs, too? #USAvPAR #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/LjE2soRgE0
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 12, 2016
Guzan made a clutch double save in the 82nd minute
.@bguzan ?? ?? ?? #USAvPAR #MyCopaColors https://t.co/hFku3XcFOn
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2016
In the 88th minute, Paraguay had an equalizer waived off for offside
#USAvPAR: 88′. Anulan gol de @Albirroja por posición adelantada. #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/qS7iNmsWGD
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) June 12, 2016
After 90 minutes, the U.S. had to hang on for six minutes of stoppage time
Waiting for that 90 min mark #USAvPAR #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/EZxX2tryQQ
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) June 12, 2016
Even after that final whistle, the drama wasn’t over involving the U.S team. In the remaining Group A match, Costa Rica upset Colombia, 3-2, in Houston. That unexpected result sent the U.S. into the quarterfinals as Group A winners.
https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/741830835440128001
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