Copa America 2016 Daily: USA and Colombia take control of group A

Day five of Copa America 2016 saw the hosts back in action. USA and Colombia were able to register victories to take control of group A.

Copa America 2016 reached its second round of group stage games with Group A returning to action on Tuesday evening. After a loss in the opener, the United States hosted Costa Rica in Chicago followed by group leaders Colombia facing Paraguay at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

The United States remained unchanged from their 2-0 loss to Colombia, which as any fan of the USMNT under Jurgen Klinsmann will tell you, is probably a sign that the world is ending. Metaphorically, the world could have ended Tuesday night with a US loss, but thankfully the US were not only able to win, but win emphatically.

Costa Rica exerted early pressure, but the US were able to get up the field and earn themselves a penalty in the 8^th minute. Clint Dempsey stepped up and scored his 50^th international goal with a kick that would have made Didier Drogba proud.

Following the goal, the US could really only sit back and counter against Costa Rica’s pressing and possession play. While it looked like the counters wouldn’t come to anything, the US eventually decided to be clinical from outside the box, with Jermaine Jones shooting into the right corner and Bobby Wood shooting into the left corner, giving the USMNT a 3-0 lead going into the half.

The score line would remain all the way until the 87^th minute, when Graham Zusi put the game to bed and sent the US to their biggest win over CONCACAF rivals Costa Rica.

On the other side of the group, Colombia sought the win that would guarantee their advancement while Paraguay sought any hope at all for progressing to the quarter finals.

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There was really only ever going to be one winner from this one, and Colombia started brightly to insure that nothing went against the script. They opened the scoring from a corner, which Carlos Bacca gladly buried into the net.

The pressure continued to pile onto Paraguay, and James Rodriguez, whose shoulder apparently wasn’t dislocated against the United States, took advantage of a run by Bacca and a few lucky bobbles to clean up a loose ball and rocket it into the net.

Colombia seemed pretty content with that score line, and in the second half Paraguay were in control as Colombia sat back. A Victor Ayala screamer in the 70th minute put Paraguay within touching distance of a draw, but Oscar Romero’s red card more or less ended their chances.

Chelsea’s Juan Cuadrado got the start again, and much like the last game it seemed like he was rather absent. Every time he actually got the ball, he attempted to dribble his way into space, but unlike Willian, Cuadrado was unable to create any chances by doing so.

You could see Cuadrado trying. But many times his space on the right was taken by James Rodriguez roaming wide to find the ball or Carlos Bacca dropping deep to influence a play. It’s almost as if the other players look for an option besides Cuadrado, which leaves him somewhat alienated. He was subbed off in the 87th minute having been a passenger during the game.

All that’s not to say that he played poorly. He occasionally made a brilliant pass, or came back and made a good tackle. It’s just that these good plays were so few and far between that they were forgettable.

If Juan Cuadrado wants a spot at Chelsea over Pedro or Willian, he’ll need to influence the game more consistently, or at least have a greater impact the few times he’s able to be involved.

Next: Euro 2016 could be affecting Chelsea’s transfer plans

Copa America continues on Wednesday as Willian and Brazil take on Haiti in what is sure to be a victory for Brazil, and Ecuador and Peru battle for second place in Group B.