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Former Terrapin Graham Zusi celebrates his second-one-half goal as the United Country beat Costa Rica, 4-0, in group play Tuesday night of the Copa America Centenario. (Omar Torres/AFP/Getty Images)

CHICAGO — By halftime, the "Burn down Klinsmann" banner hanging in Soldier Field'south lower deck was long gone, either confiscated by authorities or pulled past the artists with a modify of middle amid the U.Due south. national soccer squad's romp over Republic of costa rica.

Too vanquished Tuesday were questions nearly the Americans' capacity to recover from an opening defeat and the threat of becoming the start team eliminated from the 16-nation Copa America Centenario.

Facing an almost must-win state of affairs, the United states of america forged a 3-goal lead before halftime and stomped on the Ticos, iv-0, earlier 39,642 at the lakeside venue.

[Gulati addresses Klinsmann condition, World Loving cup bid]

"We know if we lose, nosotros're out," midfielder Jermaine Jones said. "That'due south why we came out with that functioning."

Clint Dempsey is greeted by U.S. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann after being taken out of the lucifer in the second half. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

In the space of 33 minutes, Clint Dempsey scored once and assisted on goals by Jones and Bobby Wood equally the Americans (three points) rebounded from a 2-0 loss to Group A favorite Republic of colombia on Friday and invigorated their hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals.

Substitute Graham Zusi, a former Maryland Terrapin, scored in the 87th infinitesimal.

The "squad understands perfectly how the situation looks, that nosotros have to go things done," Coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "For u.s., information technology'south non a thought of: 'What if nosotros lose the game?' Nosotros never think that way. You lot have three games, you have to find a way to get your points."

[Klinsmann, U.S. face must-win vs. Republic of costa rica]

With a victory Saturday confronting Paraguay in Philadelphia, the Usa would secure passage. A depict would likewise probably practise the trick.

Colombia (six points) clinched a quarterfinal spot with a 2-i victory over Paraguay (one).

Costa Rica, a 2014 World Cup quarterfinalist playing without injured star goalkeeper Keylor Navas, remained stuck on one indicate and must defeat Colombia this weekend for whatever take chances of advancing.

U.Southward. goalkeeper Brad Guzan keeps Republic of costa rica out of the scoring column. (Mike Dinovo/Usa Today Sports)

The result helped alleviate mounting pressure on Klinsmann, who has come under fire from all directions every bit his squad has faltered in meaningful matches since 2014 (World Cup qualifiers, Gilded Cup, CONCACAF Loving cup and the Copa opener).

Hours before kickoff, in his strongest language still since hiring Klinsmann about v years ago, U.South. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said "results of the last 18 months overall haven't been what we would have hoped for, especially in the official competitions."

Adding to speculation about Klinsmann'southward future, Gulati also said: "No 1 has ironclad job security."

Klinsmann stayed with the same starting lineup equally in the opener, a decision that surely quelled fans' complaints well-nigh inconsistent selections. "You encounter that they are starting now to smell each other and brand runs off each other," he said.

The Americans were shaky in the back in the early moments, raising concerns of another early arrears, similar confronting Colombia. Just after a series of encouraging sequences, the Americans went ahead in the ninth minute.

DeAndre Yedlin served from the right side. Wood backed into position for a header. Christian Gamboa pushed him from behind. Ecuadorean referee Roddy Zambrano pointed to the penalty spot. The Ticos swarmed in fury.

Under normal circumstances, Republic of costa rica would have liked its chances with Navas facing a penalty boot. But the Real Madrid goalkeeper had withdrawn from the tournament terminal week, leaving the atomic number 82 function to domestic-based Patrick Pemberton.

Dempsey pocketed a depression shot into the corner for his 50th career goal, 7 behind U.S. leader Landon Donovan. Dempsey had likewise scored his first international goal at Soldier Field, in 2005 confronting England.

The three-fourth dimension World Cup forwards manufactured opportunities throughout the first half.

In the 37th minute, Jones'southward slide tackle provided Dempsey with possession near midfield. With an assertive run at the heart of the resistance, Dempsey drew two defenders and pushed the ball wide to Jones for a xix-yard one-timer to the far lower corner — his showtime goal since a screamer against Portugal at the 2014 World Cup.

The Americans weren't content. With his back to the target, Wood gathered Dempsey'south pass, turned and lashed a xix-thou shot to the virtually corner in the 42nd minute.

"We kept going after the showtime goal, after the second goal," defender Fabian Johnson said.

Zusi added to the blowout with a takeaway deep in Costa Rica's finish and a confident strike to the corner.

"I come across a team progressing, I see a team that badly wants to prove itself confronting these quotient teams," Klinsmann said. "We are at that place in the driver'due south seat to get through this very difficult grouping. . . . It'due south encouraging this group has the extreme hunger now to make things happen."

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Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/us-routs-costa-rica-4-0-to-bolster-chances-in-copa-america-centenario/2016/06/07/a7616720-2cdd-11e6-9de3-6e6e7a14000c_story.html

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