U.S. wins Copa America Centenario group, heads to quarterfinals in Seattle

From the brink of elimination to group winner, the U.S. men’s national

team is heading toCopa America Centenario‘s knockout stage.

Next stop: Seattle.

At 9 p.m. Saturday, the Americans booked their quarterfinal place with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Philadelphia.

At 11 p.m. Saturday, they ascended to the top of Group A when front-runner Colombia lost to Costa Rica, 3-2, in Houston.

So the United States finished with six points and a plus-3 goal differential. Colombia was second with six points and a plus-2 goal differential. (Turns out, Graham Zusi’s late goal in the 4-0 rout of Costa Rica on Tuesday in Chicago meant more than we could have imagined.)

Costa Rica, showing great character vs. Colombia even though it had been eliminated, took third with four points. Paraguay ended up last with one point.

The Americans will head to CenturyLink Field in the Pacific Northwest for a quarterfinal Thursday against Group B’s second-place team: Brazil, Peru or Ecuador. FS1 and UniMas will provide coverage. Kickoff is at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Group B wraps up Sunday night.

If Ecuador (two points) defeats Haiti (none) in New Jersey (6:30 p.m., FS2, Univision) and Brazil (four) defeats Peru (four) in Foxborough, Mass. (8:30 p.m., FS1, Univision), the United States will play Ecuador.

If Ecuador wins and Brazil and Peru draw, there is a three-way tie for first place. Brazil enters the day plus-6 and would advance, likely atop the group. Peru is currently plus-1 and Ecuador is even. The first-place finisher will play Colombia in New Jersey on Friday.

Victories by Ecuador and Peru would eliminate Brazil, in which case, the Americans would play Ecuador. Ecuador must win to retain any hope of advancing.

One way or another, the United States is probably going to face Ecuador, a team it played in a friendly in Frisco, Tex., as part of Copa preparations last month. The Americans won, 1-0, on Darlington Nagbe’s late goal.

Average attendance for the three U.S. group matches was 52,707. A large turnout is expected in Seattle, as well.

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