The United States battled into the Copa America Centenario quarter-finals here after a Clint Dempsey goal clinched a 1-0 win over Paraguay.
Dempsey shot the hosts into the lead on 27 minutes at lincoln Financial Field to guarantee them a place in the last eight from Group A along with Colombia, who play Costa Rica later Saturday.
But Jurgen Klinsmann’s side were made to sweat through a nerve-jangling second half after DeAndre Yedlin’s rash dismissal left the hosts playing with 10 men for more than 40 minutes.
Paraguay spent long periods in the US half but a backs-to-the-wall defensive display from the Americans saw them hang on for a gritty win.
Costa Rica upsets Colombia 3-2
Johan Venegas and Celso Borges each scored and Costa Rica benefited from an own goal by Colombia in a 3-2 upset victory to wrap up Group A play in the Copa America.
Colombia had already advanced before this match, earning a berth in the quarterfinals with a win over Paraguay on Tuesday and Costa Rica was eliminated from contention with the United States’ 1-0 victory over Paraguay earlier on Saturday