By Paul Nicholson
June 8 – The Copa America Centenario sparked into life last night at Chicago’s Soldier Field with hosts USA thrashing Costa Rica 4-0 in the first of the second round of group games.
The first round of games across all four groups had passed unremarkably with few goals and some cagey performances as teams.
The US game, described by captain Clint Dempsey as a must-win before kick off, puts them into second place in their Group A table, behind Colombia who defeated Paraguay 2-1. Not surprisingly it was the ever-present Dempsey who opened the scoring for the US.
With Colombia now assured of qualifying for the next round, focus will switch to the winner takes all US vs Paraguay final group game at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. Only the top two teams from each group qualify for the knock-out rounds.
| W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Colombia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Costa Rica | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Paraguay | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
In Group B action today leaders Peru face Ecuador knowing a win will see them through to the next round. Brazil, who disappointed in their first game while drawing with Ecuador, will be hoping for an easier time against Haiti.
Unless Brazil find form, and soon, they could very easily find themselves as spectators in the knock-out rounds.
| W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peru | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| Ecuador | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 5 |
| Brazil | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
| Haiti | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
Perhaps the highlight of the matches so far, certainly in terms of goals and controversy, was Mexico’s 3-1 win over Uruguay. Mexico return to action tonight against Jamaica at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, in a repeat of the Gold Cup final which Mexico won last year.
Uruguay, current Copa America champions, face Venezuela and will be desperate to return to winning ways if they are to progress out of Group C. A win for the Venezuelans would put them through to the next round.
| W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 7 |
| Venezuela | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Uruguay | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Jamaica | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Argentina looked the class team in Group D with a 2-1 win over Chile. Both are pre-tournament favourites though could slip up against a re-constituted Panama side that have plenty of young talent.
Argentina play Panama next and will have Lionel Messi back in the squad and available for selection following his return from Spain.
| W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 9 |
| Chile | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
| Panama | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 3 |
| Bolivia | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
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