OT: Copa America - Quarterfinal: USA vs. Ecuador, 9:30pm EDT, FS1
USA plays Ecuador tonight in Seattle for a spot in the semifinals. The winner will face the winner of the Argentina-Venezuela match on Saturday.
USA has found a central defense! Can we rack up some goals against the talented Ecuadorans? Who is starting at right back for the USA?
Says Ecuador is #13 and we are #31. Would this be considered that big of an upset? Truth be told, I would've thought we were the favored team coming in
Thoes rankings go on a 4 year cycle, so they may not be a great projection of how a team is playing at the moment.
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They're a trailing four year ranking, but we've been pretty brutal since the 2014 WC and we're probably favored in this game because there's a massive home field advantage in international soccer. Someone posted the other night that Ecuador is 0-4-4 in away from home and 7-0-1 at home in their last 16 international games. That is a HUGE difference.
at something like 9,700 ft abover sea level, IIRC, so they get a similar home field advantage to Mexico when they play at Azteca. So, while there is certainly an advantage to playing on home soil, it's not usually as distorted as Ecuador's record would indicate it would be.
Such a beautiful goal. Great work all around. If we can just avoid bad turnovers, I think we can hold onto this lead. I'd love to go ahead by 2 or 3 though :)
Dempsey almost bagged another. We're looking good
JMFB!
solid outing from Besler
Teddy Roosevelt sighting - drink!
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While Fox is terrible, the camera work isn't their fault, as they're using the international feed that goes out to all countries
Alejandro has gotta put that one away.
Bedoya---wtf?
get any air on that ball at all and it's a goal
Or square it to Wood at the penalty spot. That play kind of sums up Bedoya. Lots of hard work and running but without the quality to really change the game.
Great tackle on Ale by the Ecuadoran. I am loving our threatening play!
Bradley got bailed out there...that was weak.
Yup. Terrible from Bradley there.
Geez, bad back pass. Guzan makes the save.
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He does two or three of those every game. Don't know what he's thinking when he does that. It's just sloppy.
Halftime! Phew!
Pretty decent half. A couple of wasted chances, a couple lapses, but overall this feels like the right score.
MacArthur guy now, too LOL
Gotta cut down on the careless passes on defense in front of the goal. Just clear it out of there and live to fight another day.
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Damn, that was too close!
WTF just happened
WTF just happened?
Jones and Wood out for next match...fucking hell
that's a sweet red on Jones with absolutely no idea what happened
EDIT: finally a replay -- tapped a dude in the face with his fist
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Jones was called for the pimp slap.
Stupid by Jones. Wood, too, for the hard challenge right after.