Copa America: US Back on Track with Win vs. Costa Rica

After losing 2-0 in Copa America’s opening game the US was faced with an ultimatum; lose and be the first team eliminated. Thankfully for US fans, they were able to put their destiny back in their own hands with a 4-0 win vs. Costa Rica on Tuesday night at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The boys are back, baby.

After losing 2-0 to Colombia in the opening match of Copa America on Friday, the United States had their backs against a wall. If they had lost vs. Costa Rica they would have been the first team eliminated from the tournament. The US responded accordingly with a convincing 4-0 win at Soldier Field in Chicago.

It didn’t look good in the first 8 minutes with Costa Rica coming out of the gate with high pressure on the US’s back line, forcing them to make unnecessary turnovers which let The Ticos dominate possession. Everything changed though when Bobby Wood drew a foul in box trying to head a Yedlin cross and Dempsey drilled the ensuing PK in the 9th minute.

More from Playing for 90

After that the US kept most of the possession in the first half, adding two goals, one by Jermaine Jones (37th) and one by Bobby Wood (42nd) which gave them a 3-0 halftime lead. They spent most of the second half defending on their own side of midfield, but managed to add another goal when sub Graham Zusi dispossessed a Costa Rican defender and scored in the 87th minute.

After the game, Klinnsman was quoted saying he thought the switch to the 4-4-2 from the 4-3-3 late in the first half helped with keeping a good team width, which in turn helped secure the win.

Though CR might have played a little better in the second half, the huge lead the US had built allowed them to play defensively without having to worry about scoring. Tonight we saw why Jurgen Klinsmann thinks the US fans should expect their team to reach the semifinals of this tournament.

TASOS KATOPODIS/AFP/Getty Images. /

The back line of the US looked much better tonight than vs. Colombia. Yedlin and Johnson played very well out on the sides. They were able to get more involved with the offense, making runs up and down the flanks, but still managed to recover and take care of their defensive duties as backs. John Brooks and Geoff Cameron were very solid in the center of the back line as well.

Their communication was on point, and they were able to clog up a lot of what Costa Rica was trying to do in the center, taking away their ability to create chances.

(Photo by David Banks/LatinContent/Getty Images) /

The midfield functioned much better tonight as well. Bradley didn’t have a great game, but he didn’t look completely lost as he did vs. Colombia. Jermaine Jones, who moved in as the other center midfielder when the US switched to the 4-4-2, was the man of the match in my eyes.

Jones showed how good he was pushing up with the offense, scoring once and creating multiple opportunities. He also was a wall in the center of the field in the second half. At 34, it seems he is the timeless man for the USMNT.

As far as the attack was concerned, Dempsey and Wood were very good. Dempsey had a goal and two assists, and helped the US retain possession by dropping back a little bit. He looked much more comfortable in the 4-4-2 when he was not the designated number 9.

Though Wood looked lost on the outside in the beginning, when he was able to move into the middle of the field on top of the 4-4-2 with Dempsey he was solid, scoring a pretty goal on a two-touch play from the top of the 18. He also was able to draw the PK that put the US in the driver’s seat and calmed the nerves early in the game.