Costa Rica 0 – Paraguay 0
After last night’s humbling USA defeat, one of CONCACAF’s other marquee teams, Costa Rica, took the field against a fallen South American giant in Paraguay. As the lineups were released, Spanish right back Dani Carvajal was not listed for either side. While this was expected, it didn’t stop one commenter on Goal.com from voicing their discern at the snub.
The first half was incredibly chippy, with Yeltsin Tejada of Costa Rica getting a yellow card in the fifteenth second of regulation. To his credit, the referee avoided over-calling the game and did well to keep the focus on the field, allowing the game to settle into a rhythm by the thirtieth minute.
Unfortunately, that rhythm was about as repetitive as a Phish album. Neither team looked to possess much urgency, and in a match where five MLS regulars saw the field (four for Costa Rica), nobody was able to put their stamp on the match. Arsenal forward Joel Campbell was neutralized to perfection by the Paraguayan defense, and Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bryan Ruiz was also kept out of action for much of the day.
The big story of the match will be the red card to Vancouver Whitecaps defender Kendall Waston, who will be suspended for Costa Rica’s matchup with the United States on Tuesday. Waston was probably the best player on the field before the infringement and was a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year in 2015. The overhead announcer said Waston was removed for “on-the-field infringement as well as racial slurs”, and will be subject to further sanctions from tournament officials.
Paraguay's scoreless draw with Costa Rica was the perfect result for the #USMNT. https://t.co/RDCUbRTHH8
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) June 5, 2016
This scoreless draw was the best possible result for both Colombia and the United States. For Colombia, it helps relieve the pressure to rush injured star James Rodriguez back onto the field. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s played for the rest of the group matches, as he’s the center of major transfer rumors and won’t want to see his value plummet. For the Nats, this both minimizes the goals scored (second tiebreaker after differential) and keeps second place in sight. Assuming Colombia take the group with 7 points, that would make a 4 point total a safe bet for advancement.
Haiti 0 – Peru 1
While soccer fans are used to raucous crowds roaring on the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field, it was a mouse who roared on Saturday as Peru knotted the only goal of the day on a gorgeous cross to back-to-back Copa America Golden Boot winner Paolo Guerrero.
Paolo Guerrero opens the scoring for Peru against Haiti with a wonderful diving header. #HAIvPER #MyCopaColors https://t.co/gSMfBB4heA
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 5, 2016
The opening half was a tenuous affair in front of a timid stadium, with shaky passing and bored defensive lines. Haiti’s best chance came on a first half free kick from the edge of the area that nearly devolved into a fracas (there was some confusion as to whether the kick was given for a foul or a hand ball, regardless it was merited). But when Mechak Jerome’s kick sailed high, it began to feel like it was a matter of time until Peru broke through.
Edison Flores delivered the ball into the box and Guerrero, the captain and attacking talisman of “Los Incas” did not miss. As the small but animated section of Peruvians erupted there were signs that perhaps real soccer would be played after all, and that even the smallest mouse of a side can roar on a grand stage.
Brazil 0 – Ecuador 0
The headline game of the day got a great venue in Pasadena, site of a glorious Brazilian victory 22 years before. Today did not have that same sense of historical importance, or indeed any sense of victory: glorious or otherwise.
The normally dynamic Brazilians played a staid and simple form of the game: playing ball after ball in from the wing holding fast against Ecuador’s counter attacks. For their part “Los Amarillos” couldn’t get much closer than 25 yards, having to push into the box on free kicks rather than the run of play.
Another look: Did the ball fully cross the line before Miller Bolanos' cross? #MyCopaColors #BRAvECU https://t.co/EdrqSIvhr3
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 5, 2016
For a moment, it looked as though Miler Bolanos would make the difference on a knuckling cross that slipped through Brazilian keeper Alisson’s limbs. But the referees ruled that it had gone out of play before being sent to the center, and from then on the game limped to its predictable conclusion, but by no means preferred conclusion.
Will the US rebound against a deflated Costa Rica? Will conspiracy theorists unmask the real reason Bolanos’ goal was disallowed? Will anyone other than Paolo Guerrero score?
Tune in for more Copa America Centenario (in)action soon!
Copa America Centenario Match Day 3: Group C
4:00 PM
Jamaica
Venezuela
7:00 PM
Mexico
Uruguay
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