Sure enough, there will be three minutes added on at the end of this match.
89'
There's little reason for time to be added onto the end of this match. USA have accomplished what they set out for, and Costa Rica are halfway out of the stadium already.
87'
G. Zusi has scored a goal for United States!
ZUSI GETS IN ON THE ACT! One more for good measure as a dreadful giveaway at the back is pounced on by Zusi, who takes a few steps forward before slotting a stoppable effort past Pemberton from atop the area!
86'
STAT: USA had previously lost nine of their 13 Copa America games, including each of their last six.
84'
THEY NEARLY PULL ONE BACK! Beckerman produces a vital defensive touch to deny Costa Rica a consolation goal with his first involvement of the match! A free-kick to the far post is knocked back across goal where Calvo is waiting to tap it into the gaping net, but the substitute slides in to knock it away!
83'
K. Beckerman enters the game and replaces A. Bedoya.
Bedoya is withdrawn as a precaution. Kyle Beckerman takes his place.
81'
J. Brooks gets yellow.
Brooks retaliates with a needless foul of his own on Ruiz, and now the yellow card comes out. It was starting to look as though the referee had lost it.
80'
Play comes to halt with Bedoya down following a late challenge from Saborio. The Costa Rica forward apologised immediately after catching his opponent, but it doesn't mean he didn't know what he was doing. That was lazy and cynical in every sense of the word.
78'
C. Wondolowski enters the game and replaces C. Dempsey.
Clint Dempsey receives a standing ovation from these fans who he's dazzled once again, as he makes way for Chris Wondolowski.
Minute
Description
76'
Costa Rica aren't getting anything going and they seem to have accepted their fate. Focus for both teams is starting to shift towards their deciding match, one Costa Rica will have to win against current group leaders Colombia if they are to progress to the knockout stage - and even that might not be enough.
74'
ALMOST A FOURTH! Costa Rica could have packed up and went home at that point, but a vital touch from Duarte sends Zardes' cross behind for a corner after a teasing, low cross from Dempsey was sent through the six-yard box and towards the far post.
72'
STAT: There had been nothing to separate these two sides in their last five head-to-head matches on American soil, with both nations recording a pair of victories, and the other ending in a stalemate.
70'
G. Zusi enters the game and replaces B. Wood.
Graham Zusi enters the fray as the USA go to the bench for the first time tonight, with the Sporting Kansas City midfielder replacing Wood.
68'
WONDERFUL SAVE! Guzan flies through the air to keep out Saborio's header from a corner! He hasn't been busy, but he's had to work for his clean sheet up to this point. That may have been one for the cameras, but it was still a difficult stop for the Villa keeper.
66'
The tempo is declined rapidly, as ironic as that is. Costa Rica are growing discouraged with every failed attack, as they've been limited to a few corners and speculative strikes from distance in this second half.
64'
Acosta gets his hand up in the face of Dempsey, who goes down in a heap, but the centre-half evades a booking. Acosta is at the centre of things seconds later for a trip on Zardes atop the area, but the referee waves play on. Twice lucky for the defender, but lightning rarely strikes three times...
62'
STAT: You have to go all the way back to a 2005 World Cup qualifying match in Salt Lake City, Utah to find the last time the USA scored three goals against Costa Rica. Landon Donovan was on target twice in that game as the Americans won 3-0.
60'
Needing a goal or two to help their ratios, Costa Rica are looking to get play started as quickly as possible after every stoppage. The USA's understandable willingness to prevent them from doing so has resulted in a few unnecessary gatherings, as the match grows more hostile with each passing minute.
58'
Jones goes flying into a dangerous tackle from behind on Borges, and Bolanos rushes to his team-mate's aid. The referee has to start going to his pocket to regain control as the match starts to spiral out of control.
56'
Costa Rica are on the ascendency, albeit at a slow rate, as they test the waters with a few strikes from range. Guzan had to be wary about the latest attempt from Azofeifa, but in the end it drifts over the bar for a goal-kick, with the keeper pulling his hands away at the last second.
54'
Tempers are boiling over, and with the scoreline as lopsided as it is, it hardly comes as much of a surprise. Wood finds himself at the centre of Costa Rica's affections as a shoving match ensues at the far touchline, with the scorer of the third goal taking on four Ticos players before Zardes comes to his rescue.
52'
STAT: Costa Rica have scored in only one of their last five Copa America games (2-0 against Bolivia) – their game against Paraguay was their first nil-nil draw for them in the competition.
50'
The USA haven't lost any of their pep since the restart, and they shouldn't be expected to take their foot off the gas either as their hopes of progression could very well come down to goal differential. They're at plus-one as it stands, but keeping the clean sheet is still vital.
48'
With the two substitutions, it would seem as though Oscar Ramirez has abandoned hope of a comeback, as the focus switches to damage control and resting a few key players ahead of what's shaping up to be a massive deciding match against Colombia on Saturday.
46'
J. Salvatierra enters the game and replaces C. Gamboa.
R. Azofeifa enters the game and replaces J. Campbell.
Jose Salvatierra replaces Gamboa at the break - a like-for-like change.
Here we go again!
Also on for the Ticos is midfielder Randall Azofeifa, at the expense of Joel Campbell.
45' +1
HALF-TIME: USA 3-0 COSTA RICA.
44'
F. Johnson gets yellow.
Fabian Johnson picks up the first yellow card of the match.
42'
B. Wood has scored a goal for United States! Assist by C. Dempsey.
For his part in the goal, Dempsey picks up his second assist.
ROLL OUT THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE CARPET! The USA are running away with this one now! Bobby Wood, whose hardly played a part in this first half, picks up a pass just inside the area, turns wonderfully around Duarte and punishes a finish past Pemberton at the near post!
41'
STAT: Only in one of their previous three Copa America tournaments have the USA have progressed from the group stage – 1995.
39'
What a huge goal that is for the Americans to give them a bit of breathing room. Nerves were creeping into the stadium as they spent too much time defending their narrow lead, but Jones produces a peach of a finish when they needed it most!
37'
J. Jones has scored a goal for United States! Assist by C. Dempsey.
Dempsey turns provider for this one, setting up Jones for the finish.
COMETH THE MAN, COMETH THE HOUR! Jermaine Jones has scored some massive goals for his country over the years and this one is no different! Playground football from the Americans on the break has the Costa Rica defence at sixes-and-sevens. Dempsey pulls up and lays it off for Jones, who curls a brilliant first-time strike beyond Pemberton and into the far corner!
36'
Costa Rica's one problem in the final third is they don't have forwards running between the holes in the back-line inside the area. They need to get into those channels and offer more of an option for the wide men, but everyone wants to drop back and get on the ball - someone has to stay up top!
34'
DREADFUL FINISH! Jones and Dempsey link-up on the break, with the latter picking out Zardes in all sorts of space inside the area. It's a chance that's just begging to be hit first time, but Zardes hesitates, allowing a defender to come across and apply the necessary pressure to force an effort wildly over the bar!
32'
STAT: Clint Dempsey fired in seven of the 12 USA shots in the game against Colombia – no other American player made more than two.
30'
Less time is elapsing now between each USA stint in possession, however brief they may be. They're showing a greater ability to hit back on the counter, with the pace of Zardes causing a few panicked moments at the back for the Costa Rica defence.
28'
Campbell flashes the skill! The Arsenal forward utilises a cheeky Rabona to get out of a tight space on the touchline and advance his side into the final third. The final ball comes into the area from Ruiz, but the dimunitive Yedlin is able to beat Saborio to the header and clear the danger.
26'
CLINICAL COUNTER! That's what the Americans need to do more of! They can sit back, but when they do regain possession, they have to be efficient on the break. Bradley plays Zardes through on goal into the left channel, but from a tight angle the forward can only smack a shot into the side netting.
24'
Klinsmann can't be happy with how his side are playing in this first half. They have the lead, yes, but at this rate he can't be too sure how long it will last. They're spending the majority time off the ball, pinned in their own end, as Costa Rica pass circles around their loose marking.
22'
STAT: USA’s last clean sheet in the Copa America came in 1995 - since then they’ve played six games and conceded 15 goals.
20'
Urena and Saborio are very different strikers. The former is comfortable moving onto the flanks and putting in the work off the ball, while the latter prefers to play north-south, but his clinical nature in front of goal makes him so dangerous.
18'
Á. Saborío enters the game and replaces M. Ureña.
Urena signals to the touchline for a change after a coming together with Yedlin, and gets his wish. Alvaro Saborio comes on to replace him, earning his 109th cap.
17'
You really get a sense of how comfortable this Costa Rica team is with one another when they get to passing it around in the final third. They have such an excellent understanding of where everyone will be, and their runs off the ball are making life difficult on the hosts in defence.
15'
DECENT EFFORT! Costa Rica are back on the front foot and, from an American perspective, they're finding an alarming amount of space to work with in midfield. Bolanos gets on the end of a pull-back from Campbell, but Guzan does well to get his hands up to make the save, and collect the rebound in a timely matter.
13'
Not only do Costa Rica have nothing to show for their positive start, but they're down a goal. Football can be a cruel mistress at times and the Ticos are learning that the hard way tonight. They can't let this hostile environment get to them though, but rather stick to what was working for them.
11'
STAT: Costa Rica faced only one shot on target against Paraguay: in their three games of the Copa America 2011 they had 19 shots on target at an average of 6.3 per game.
9'
Penalty goal scored by C. Dempsey for United States!
NO MISTAKE FROM DEMPSEY! Wonderful composure from the spot as the former Fulham striker sends Pemberton the wrong way, smashing his penalty into the back of the net! The American campaign is off and running!
8'
THE USA WIN A PENALTY! Yedlin finds space on the overlap and picks out an inviting delivery towards the far post. Gamboa lets his man get in front of him, and gives Wood a cynical shove in the back that sends the forward to ground! It's a bit of a soft foul, but Gamboa should absolutely know better.
7'
END-TO-END ACTION! Campbell peels off the back of his marker to get on the end of a cross, but sends a volley narrowly wide of the top corner! Back the other way come the USA and Bedoya is teed up atop the area, but his strike is blocked fearlessly by Calvo.
5'
Dazzling interplay from the Ticos in the final third, as they carve their way through the USA defence with a string of one-touch passes. The cross comes in from Gamboa, and it's flicked on towards the far post, but Zardes tracks back admirably to intervene and start the hosts the other way.
3'
Costa Rica showing terrific energy and willingness to get forward from the start, taking the game to the Americans straight away. Guzan is forced into action for the first time as he has to be sharp to collect Campbell's cross whipped in teasingly from the right.
1'
WE'RE UNDERWAY IN THE WINDY CITY! USA are in their black kits tonight, with red and blue trim on opposite sleeves, with Costa Rica in all white. Los Ticos kick-off, attacking right to left.
Hello and welcome to live coverage from Soldier Field in Chicago as the host nation United States hope to keep their qualification hopes alive when they take on fellow CONCACAF side and 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists Costa Rica!
The USA hope to avoid an early exit and alleviate the pressure on boss Jurgen Klinsmann in front of their home crowd tonight, with three points close to a necessity for them. A draw would keep their hopes alive, but it would leave them in an awfully precarious position heading into their final match against Paraguay.
Costa Rica played out to a largely uneventful draw in their opening match, but coach Oscar Ramirez expects a much more open contest this evening in Chicago. The intense heat played a large part in the attacking drought on Saturday, but both sides are expected to have an honest go at it tonight with a massive three points on the line.
Chalk it up to whatever you want - blind faith or a lack of trust in the youngsters - but Jurgen Klinsmann names the same starting line-up to the side which put in a lacklustre showing against Colombia on Friday, again leaving out the likes of Portland's Darlington Nagbe and Dortmund's Christian Pusilic, whose performances for club and country have made them every bit deserving.
The Stars and Stripes instead roll once again with the experienced midfield trio of Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Alejandro Bedoya, behind talisman Clint Dempsey, Gyasi Zardes and Bobby Wood. The back-line, one of the few bright spots from Friday's defeat to Colombia, also remains unaltered.
Costa Rica make two changes from their draw to Paraguay, with Oscar Ramirez's hand forced on the first. Kendall Watson, who saw red in stoppage time, misses out due to suspension, with Saprissa's Francisco Calvo taking his place among the three centre-backs, joining Alajuelense's Johnny Acosta and Espanyol's Oscar Duarte.
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Christian Bolanos is injected into the centre of the park alongside Celso Borges, after being limited to a cameo off the bench in their opener. He replaces Evian's Yeltsin Tejada. Midtjylland striker Marco Urena leads the line once again, flanked by Arsenal's Joel Campbell and Sporting's Bryan Ruiz.
There's a lot of fans packed into Soldier Field for this Group A match, with the host nation hardly lacking in support. There's a fairly decent sized contingent of Costa Rica supporters who made the trip as well though, making for quite the fun atmosphere inside the stadium - but only one set of fans will be left smiling at the final whistle.
Costa Rica are stunned and you can understand why. The first half has been a gem of unpredictability in this uncertain sport, with the Americans scoring three goals against the run of play to take a seemingly insurmountable lead with them into the interval.
Clint Dempsey opened the scoring from the spot, and after withstanding waves of Costa Rica pressure, Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood scored five minutes apart at the end of the half to just about put this game out of reach.
Three first-half goals, and another late, sees the Yanks past Los Ticos in convincing fashion as the hosts avoid an early exit from the Copa America. Dempsey opened the scoring inside of 10 minutes from the penalty spot, before Jones and Wood extended the lead to three before the end of the first half. Costa Rica hardly fought back in the second frame, with Zusi adding another late on to cap off a picturesque night for the host nation.
That's all for our live coverage from Soldier Field, thanks for following along! Goodbye.
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