Agence France-Presse
Glendale (US), June 26: AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca scored the all important goal of the match as Colombia defeated the United States 1-0 to clinch the third place in the Copa America Centenario here, Saturday.
Bacca bundled home the winner in the 31st minute, nudging in from close range to settle a hard-fought contest. It was the second time the US had been beaten by Colombia in this tournament as the Colombians defeated them 2-0 in the tournament’s opening match.
The US, beaten 4-0 by Argentina in the semifinals Tuesday, rallied desperately to get back into the game but ultimately were frustrated by some superb goalkeeping from David Ospina.
Colombia had gone closest to scoring first, Real Madrid star James Rodriguez being denied by a fine Tim Howard save on 12 minutes. Rodriguez was the architect for Colombia’s goal just after the half hour mark, chipping a wonderful pass into the path of Santiago Arias, who headed across the six yard box for Bacca to score.
The US responded gamely to the setback however, with Jermaine Jones almost equalising when his low shot deflected off Arias and just missed the target.
Seattle Sounders veteran Clint Dempsey, arguably the best US player of the tournament, had another good game but was unable to add to his Copa tally of three goals and three assists.
Dempsey almost laid on a goal for Hamburg’s Bobby Wood, but the Bundesliga-based striker was unable to get his shot away cleanly.
Dempsey produced the best American chance of the second half, with his long-range curling free-kick drawing a brilliant save from Ospina, clawing the ball away one-handed as it rocketed towards the top corner.
US coach Jurgen Klinsmann later bemoaned his team’s inability to finish off any of the several chances created throughout.
“Ultimately they were clinical,” Klinsmann told. “They took their one chance in the first half – we couldn’t take ours. There were enough chances for us to put one in but we just weren’t clinical enough and the players know that.”
However Klinsmann was satisfied with what he described as a successful campaign. “The players realised tonight that if they raise the level of commitment and aggressiveness they can compete with these kinds of teams,” Klinsmann said.
“Getting in the final four of such a huge competition is a wonderful achievement and they should be very proud of themselves.”
The final of the Copa America takes place Sunday, with Argentina facing Chile in East Rutherford, New Jersey.