Why USA Soccer Lost To Colombia Again, Finished Fourth At Copa America 2016

The United States men’s national soccer team fought to the very end of its Copa America 2016 run because it could do little else.

Colombia topped Team USA 1-0 on Saturday at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., in the Copa America Centenario third place game. Carlos Bacca’s 31st-minute goal was enough to ensure Colombia earned its second win over the U.S. in three weeks and a spot on the proverbial podium behind finalists Argentina and Chile.

The game was competitive throughout, but the U.S. didn’t play well enough to deserve a victory. While the U.S. limited Colombia’s scoring chances, goalkeeper Tim Howard had to be on top of his game to prevent his team from conceding more than one goal.

Colombia defended with focus and purpose, stifling Team USA for much of the contest. When the U.S. broke through Colombia’s guard, goalkeeper David Ospina was at least Howard’s equal, denying the hosts’ best chances that came during a second-half flurry.

The U.S. lacked spark and sparkle in its sixth game since June 3. Colombia was well prepared to deal with Team USA’s forays forward and maintained the superiority it established three weeks ago in the tournament-opening victory over the same opponent.

Here’s how Colombia beat the United States in the third-place game at Copa America 2016.

The better team won
Colombia is third in FIFA’s latest rankings. The 31st-ranked United States isn’t in that elite category.

If this group of Americans players bonded into something truly special, a Band of Brothers perhaps, it might have been able to upset Colombia in one or both meetings at Copa America 2016. That wasn’t the case this summer. Team USA was about equal to the sum of its parts. So was Colombia.

The four halves of soccer the teams played against each other proved Colombia is much closer to competing for titles than the United States. Colombia has plenty of talented players, who are capable of raising expectations and meeting them in tournament play as well as FIFA World Cup qualification.

Copa America 2016’s third-place game always was going to be competitive, but James Rodriguez had the magic dust required to trick team USA and help set up the game’s only goal.

Team USA’s best chances came within 20 minutes of the restart. After weathering the U.S. charge, Colombia managed the last half hour without much difficulty. As was the case throughout the tournament, Colombia was well organized and fit enough to run until the end of time in pursuit of its goals; even after Chile doused its hopes of winning Copa America for the first time since 2001.

Team USA one-dimensional
The U.S. started and ended the tournament against Colombia. It grew enough during the four intervening games to reach the semifinals, a genuine marker of success. But like its CONCACAF cousins, the United States showed itself to be second-rate in the face of South America’s strongest teams.

Team USA was overly reliant on Clint Dempsey, who scored three goals and assisted on three more during the tournament. But Dempsey’s goal glut came in three games against opponents Team USA reasonably expected to defeat.

When Dempsey’s goals dried up against top-quality opposition, so did team USA’s chances of making miracles.

Bobby Wood might develop into a dependable marksman at the international level one day. For now, the U.S. continues to lean on on Dempsey, its 33-year-old second all-time leading goal scorer.

Both teams were willing to battle for third place, but Colombia was capable of executing it’s game plan at a higher level than team USA was.

After 30 minutes, it was all over … bar the fighting.

Review our USA-Colombia live blog >>

Thumbnail photo via Allan Henry/USA TODAY Sports Images