PHILADELPHIA, June 12: The United States advanced to the quarterfinals of the Copa America, getting a first-half goal from Clint Dempsey and surviving DeAndre Yedlin's early second-half ejection to beat Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday night.
Dempsey scored his 51st international goal in the 27th minute, but the Americans' defense was upended just three minutes into the second half.
Yedlin got his first yellow in the 47th for a slide tackle from the side into Miguel Almiron near the center circle and then when play resumed raised a foot and charged into Miguel Samudio near a sideline. Chilean referee Julio Bascunan immediately gave a second yellow where USA were down to 10 men.
Brazil reach Copa semis with shootout win over Paraguay
Michael Orozco entered to play right back in the 50th, and Dempsey came off as the U.S. prepared to survive an onslaught. With Paraguay applying pressure, U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann repeatedly turned to try to spur on the crowd of 51,041.
Paraguay had a chance to go ahead in the 11th minute after American left back Fabian Johnson missed a tackle, creating a 3-on-1 break with only defender John Brooks and Guzan to beat. Brooks made an outstanding slide tackle in the penalty area to knock the ball away from Almiron.
Paraguay which lost to Argentina in the semifinals of last year's Copa America, are now eliminated.
