US hammer Costa Rica to keep Copa America hopes alive

Prior to the victory, US Soccer president Sunil Gulati refused to guarantee Jurgen Klinsmann’s future.

They lost their first match of the tournament 0-2 against Colombia. “Our team needs to remember what we did in the second half, because we can do it again (against the U.S.)”. “It’s a must-win situation when you lose your first one”, said Klinsmann. “From start to finish, we handled the game in a really good way”.

Get those three points they did, and in convincing fashion.

“Costa Rica are a great team, we know that the match against them will be hard with the quality of players they have and the good team they are”. They thought the job was nearly done and then, boom, [Paraguay] score that one goal.

Then Rodriguez, who won a Champions League crown with Real Madrid 11 days ago, handled the second one himself, driving a low, left-footed shot across the front of the goal and into the netting at the far side for his second score of the tournament. Should Colombia lose, they will still finish first if Paraguay beat the US or those two teams draw.

Of course, Paraguay are more than capable of punishing the United States themselves.

Up front, it appears as if Clint Dempsey has found a role just beneath Bobby Wood that allows for him to distribute the ball easily in the final third.

Jermaine Jones, Bobby Wood and Graham Zusi also scored as the United States moved into prime position to grab one of two spots in the knockout round coming out of Group A in South America’s championship.

The defense for the USA looked great as well, achieving a well-earned clean sheet against a talented Costa Rican team.

Paraguay continued to dominate the second half and were rewarded when midfielder Victor Ayala scored with a stunning 30-yard rocket in the 71st minute.

After days of questions and criticism, it was a couple of ideal pictures for the United States. It was yet another clinical display from the World Cup 2014 quarter-finalists. While the scoreline was emphatic for the U.S.in Chicago, Klinsmann’s side wasn’t always so dominant over the course of the 90 minutes.

“Goals change games, and the guys up front took care of that”, said Guzan, who only had to make one save in his 16th global shutout. “Today everything was ideal”.

After losing to Colombia 2-0 in its opener last Friday, the United States couldn’t have asked for a much better response against Costa Rica.

What happens if the USA wins: Then the team will be back on track and likely be in second place in the group ahead of the final group-stage clash with Paraguay.

Just as important, the team regained its confidence as they sprinted out to a three-goal lead in the first half and cruised to an unexpectedly easy victory over their CONCACAF rivals (their largest margin of defeat ever vs. Costa Rica).