After a 2-1 victory over Ecuador during the quarterfinals of the Copa America Centenario on Thursday night in Seattle, the United States men’s national team garnered a spot in the tournament’s semifinals for the first time since 1995.
In a thrilling game that left each team with 10 players due to red cards, the U.S. team came away with the win in only the second time the U.S. has faced Ecuador.
Clint Dempsey scored his 52nd international goal in the 22nd minute when he headed the ball inside the left post to give USA a 1-0 lead. Dempsey scored in three straight games, and he is currently five goals behind former player Landon Donovan’s scoring record.
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The second U.S. goal came from Gyasi Zardes with an assist from Dempsey in the 65th minute.
Ecuador came close to equalizing when Michael Arroyo scored from a set piece in the 74th minute making the match 2-1, and from Enner Valencia’s missed header moments later.
USA will be heading into the semifinals without Jermaine Jones — because of a red card — as well as Alejandro Bedoya and Bobby Wood, who both got their second yellow cards of the tournament.
The U.S. will face the winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal between Argentina and Venezuela in Houston on Tuesday.
Throughout Copa America, the men’s national team has sported Nike‘s 2016 soccer kit featuring Nike AeroSwift technology and Nike Hypervenom Phantom II cleats.
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