PHILADELPHIA, PA – Paraguay needed to go for a win here in what turned out to be a crucial game for both them and the hosts, the United States at Lincoln Financial Field. What happened during the 90 minutes in Philadelphia turned out to be something very emotional as well as infuriating. 

Very Frustrating Albirroja

Ramon Diaz knew that coming into this game that the necessity was to win no matter what, but also to try and attack, as they did in their first two matches against Costa Rica and Colombia. Paraguay were smart in reverting back to their usual 4-4-2 formation, the same one that they used in the draw in Orlando last Saturday and even more smart by announcing his lineup at the pre-match press conference. Paraguay almost got lucky at the start with the opening goal when Miguel Almiron made a run towards goal following a wonderful ball from the counter by Dario Lezcano and looked certain to score had it not been for a perfect clearance from John Brooks.

What they wee desperately trying to rely on mostly were set pieces - their speciality. Free kick after free kick was taken as they were continuing with various opportunities on goal but failed to convert any. They finally let themselves go when they were unable to clear Clint Dempsey off a wonderful counter that was started by Gyasi Zardes on the left. 

Clearly frustrated, this became a first half in which the United States took clear advantage of the available chances that they were able to get, something that La Albirroja weren’t able to do with unbelievable more chances that they were able to get.

Paulo Da Silva was key in defense for La Albirroja. Photo: Christina Wallace
Paulo Da Silva was key in defense for La Albirroja. Photo: Christina Wallace

Unable to get anything

In the second half, they were given a lifeline with the showing of two yellow cards to DeAndre Yedlin, forcing the Americans to play with 10 men for the remaining of the match. Victor Ayala was among of the players with various opportunities onto goal, especially being the provider on free kicks from each levels of the pitch.

Clearly frustrated and lacking a finishing product, the American defense was able to stop Paraguay on the break better in the second half; the perfomances fom John Brooks and Michael Bradley were especially good. As hard as this group tried and how those three games have become for the Paraguayans, it wasn't enough to get more than a goal in the 270 minutes and it became just much more of a bad taint of Ramon Diaz's record of having only won three games out of his 20 games in charge in only one and a half years in charge.

What's next?

Having been eliminated alongside Costa Rica in what was a hard group at the start of everything, a lot of questions will have to come to play in the next few months before some crucial World Cup qualifiers for Russia 2018. Matches against Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina and Bolivia are crucial for their qualification to the World Cup in two years time. For some, this tournament can be a learning experience, but for others, their failure of trying to get a win and convincing result against their three rivals was not good enough.

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About the author
Roberto Rojas
Writing about the beautiful game. Cohost of the @LowLimitFutbol Podcast.