Colombia proved as soon as once more that it is a bit higher than the US, defeating the Yanks 1-0 to complete third in Copa America Centenario. Carlos Bacca’s Thirty first-minute strike was the distinction.
BY
John Godfrey
Posted
June 25, 2016
10:00 PM
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PRESENTED WITH AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY to offer Christian Pulisic and Darlington Nagbe begins towards high competitors in Saturday’s third-place recreation towards Colombia, Jurgen Klinsmann as an alternative selected a really acquainted lineup.
Eight of the ten outfield gamers who began towards Colombia within the Copa America Centenario opener on June 3 additionally received the nod within the rematch. The one two who missed out—Fabian Johnson and John Brooks—watched from the sidelines as a consequence of accidents.
As earlier than, the North Individuals performed arduous however got here up quick towards the extra technically adept South Individuals. A Carlos Bacca objective within the Thirty first minute proved to be the distinction within the contest, as Colombia completed third in Copa America Centenario, and the Yanks completed a good fourth.
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Maybe extra importantly, the U.S. rebounded properly from the humiliating 4-0 loss towards Argentina within the event semfinals. Klinsmann and his males can now look again on the event and see extra positives than negatives.
The Individuals almost opened the scoring within the sixteenth minute on a ravishing sequence that featured intelligent touches, slashing runs, and an Alejandro Bedoya cross that discovered Clint Dempsey racing by means of the six-yard field. If not for Cristian Zapata’s determined sliding block, the U.S. would have jumped out to an early lead over the South Individuals.
On the halfway level of the primary half, the U.S. was holding its personal towards Colombia, and in reality might need been the marginally higher facet. However poor choices within the closing third, in addition to some poor touches, harm the Individuals.
Colombia, then again, appeared to boost its recreation every time it received near Tim Howard’s objective.
Within the Thirty first minute, Juan Cuadrado hustled to retrieve a ball that was heading towards the touchline. He succeeded, after which handed to James Rodriguez simply outdoors the penalty space. The Actual Madrid star instantly turned nothing into one thing, floating a move to a streaking Santiago Arias, who headed the ball previous Howard and towards the far nook. Carlos Bacca and DeAndre Yedlin raced to get to the ball however Bacca received there first and slammed the ball into the again of the web to offer Colombia a 1-0 lead.
The U.S. didn’t again down: Within the thirty seventh minute, Yedlin despatched in a cross from the fitting flank that crossed up each groups—it might have been a mishit. The ball ricocheted across the field, from Jermaine Jones to Bobby Wooden after which lastly to Alejandro Bedoya. However not one of the Yanks managed to pounce on the ball and declare glory.
Two minutes later, Gyasi Zardes and Clint Dempsey mixed properly within the middle of the sector, simply outdoors the Colombian penalty space. Dempsey discovered Wooden, who had an opportunity to unleash a shot on objective however he hesitated and Colombia finally broke up the play.
Simply earlier than intermission Jones tried a cross from shut proximity on the left facet of the field. Arias jumped as much as head the ball away however received it flawed and the ball bounced tantalizingly towards the Colombia objective, finally hitting the facet netting as David Ospina scrambled helplessly.
The U.S., a superb workforce, ought to have scored a number of instances within the first however fell quick. Colombia, an excellent workforce, buried its one high quality probability.
The identical narrative continued after the break.
Within the 51st minute a Colombian defender dumped Dempsey 28 yards out from objective and within the middle of the pitch. Simply as he did in the same free kick try within the event opener, Dempsey shot across the wall and focused the higher nook to Ospina’s left. As earlier than, Wooden thought the ball was getting into and raised his arms in celebration. And, as earlier than, Ospina made an amazing sprawling save to maintain the U.S. off the scoreboard.
With the U.S. urgent ahead and Colombia wanting to pounce on the counterattack, the sport started to open up. Each groups, the truth is, rattled the woodwork near the one-hour mark.
Colombia’s Cuardado took benefit of some lax defending from Michael Orozco and chipped a ball over Howard from the sting of the penalty space. The slow-moving shot caromed off the decrease half of the crossbar and stayed out—an enormous break for the Individuals.
A few minute later, Wooden wrestled previous a defender contained in the Colombian field and had a superb take a look at Ospina’s objective. He focused the far nook however hit the upright as his exasperated teammates put their fingers to their faces in disbelief.
Wooden, who was glorious in maintain up play all through the match, had one other probability 5 minutes later. Again within the Colombia field with the ball at his toes, the Hamburg striker might have sprung an unmarked Zardes on the left facet of the field, however as an alternative Wooden tried to plow by means of his defender and was dispossessed. Dempsey had a half-chance after the play was damaged up however his left-footed try went vast.
With quarter-hour left to go, Klinsmann made a change, subbing out Bedoya in favor of the extra technical and offensive-minded Pulisic.
A couple of minutes after that, Bradley—who gave the impression to be struggling after a first-half deal with—got here off rather than Nagbe.
The strain mounted within the closing 10 minutes of the sport, because the U.S. fought valiantly to equalize and ship the sport to penalty kicks whereas Colombia pounced on each counterattack alternative and tried to place the sport away.
Within the 82nd minute, Pulisic made a superb sliding deal with within the Colombian half that created an outnumbered probability for the Yanks. However Yedlin held onto the ball too lengthy after which misplaced his eventual cross, letting the guests off the hook.
Because the clock ticked towards the 90-minute mark, Colombian gamers engaged in some elaborate gamesmanship, feigning damage and losing time as they tried to carry on to the lead. Once they weren’t writhing on the grass and clutching their legs, the guests did an admirable job enjoying maintain away.
Simply after stoppage time the Individuals made one other good push ahead and Zardes discovered himself with the ball 10 yards from the Colombian objective with quite a few choices to contemplate. The Los Angeles Galaxy attacker hesitated, nevertheless, after which made a late, clumsy cross that was simply stopped.
It will show to be the Individuals final alternative on objective.
Each groups traded purple playing cards within the waning moments of the match—Orozco misplaced his thoughts by slapping a Colombian participant proper in entrance of the referee—however the Colombians held on to defeat the U.S. for the second time in three weeks.
John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now, and he would love to listen to your ideas on the match, and the event, within the Feedback part beneath.
