Group A took center stage at the 2016 Copa America on Tuesday, which meant the United States was back in action for its second game of the tournament.The Red, White and Blue squared off with Costa Rica in Chicago at Soldier Field in a contest the Americans could not lose, lest they be mathematically eliminated from advancing past the group stage. Elsewhere, Paraguay and Colombia faced off in the nightcap in Pasadena, California.Colombia led the group with three points entering play Tuesday, while Costa Rica and Paraguay each had a single point following their tie in the first game. The United States was chasing without a point after it lost to Colombia in the opener.Here is a look at Tuesday's results, the upcoming schedule and the updated group standings.A full schedule is available on the tournament's official website. United States def. Costa Rica, 4-0The United States is still alive in the 2016 Copa America following its 4-0 victory over Costa Rica. It scored three goals (Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood) in the first half and played strong defense and received a fourth (Graham Zusi) in the second.The Americans wasted little time seizing an early lead in the can't-lose contest. Wood drew a foul on Cristian Gamboainside the box and earned his team a penalty kick in the opening minutes. Dempsey took advantage and drilled the subsequent shot into the bottom right corner of the net for the game's opening goal at the nine-minute mark.Paul Carr of ESPN Stats & Info said Dempsey joined Landon Donovan as the only American players to score 50 international goals, and U.S. Soccer reacted to the impressive feat:After allowing the initial breakdown, Costa Rica had to replaceMarco Urena withAlvaro Saborio in the 18th minute after Urena hurt his shoulder. Ives Galarcep of SBISoccer.com said it happened when Urena was "battling" with the United States' John Brooks, and he noted Saborio was "slower, but more physical."The United States had another quality offensive play and nearly took a 2-0 lead after Dempsey found Gyasi Zardes on the right side, but Zardes sailed the open look high. However, Dempsey continued to create, and he hitJones on the left side. Jones converted the opportunity into the bottom corner at the 37th minute and gave the Americans the 2-0 advantage, viaFox Soccer:Just for good measure, Dempsey added another assist when he found Wood, who turned and connected on his shot to give the United States a commanding 3-0 lead at 42 minutes, which it took into the halftime locker rooms. Fox Soccer shared the third goal for the Americans:The home team sat back at times on the lead early in the second half, which gave Costa Rica some opportunities in attacking positions. Still, the United States defense was up to the task with every push, although it received some help whenCelso Borges struck a clear look over the crossbar at 55 minutes.The defense continued to hold strong throughout the middle portion of the second half, and Jeff Borzello of ESPN.com noticed a difference from the United States' loss in its first game:With the contest well in hand, United States coachJurgen Klinsmann subbedGraham Zusi in for Wood, Chris Wondolowski in for Dempsey and Kyle Beckerman in for Alejandro Bedoya. However, Costa Rica fared no better on the scoreboard against the subs, and Zusi added the exclamation mark goal with his left foot in the 87th minute after he forced a turnover, via Fox Soccer:Even with the three points on Tuesday, the Americans are far from secure in their advancement chances after losing the first game. They play Paraguay on Saturday in Philadelphia and would find themselves trailing their next opponent in the standings with a loss.What's more, Colombia already beat the United States and was working with a three-point advantage on the Red, White and Blue coming into play Tuesday. If the Americans lose their next contest, Tuesday's blowout victory and impressive performance will ultimately be for naught.
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