The U.S. national team will face Ecuador in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Copa America Centenario after La Tricolor knocked off Haiti, 4-0, Sunday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, to finish second in Group B.
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West Ham United striker Enner Valencia scored one and assisted one in the first half, slotting home to complete a lethal counter-attack in the 11th minute, then laying the ball off to a streaking Jaime Ayovi for an empty-net finish nine minutes later.
Enner Valencia nets his 16th international goal in just his 28th cap. Quite a record! #ECUvHAI #MyCopaColors https://t.co/eSkH606ix4
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2016
Jaime Ayovi first with the nice dummy to leave it for Enner Valencia, then the finish as Ecuador go up 2-0. #ECUvHAI https://t.co/xVRz5NAoE8
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2016
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Ecuador made it 3-0 just before the hour mark, when Valencia linked up with Swansea City midfielder Jefferson Montero, who picked out Christian Noboa all alone at the far post. Noboa chested the ball down with great control and placed his shot under the desperate arms of Johny Placide.
Christian Noboa makes Haiti pay for a bad giveaway and puts in Ecuador's third. #ECUvPER #MyCopaColors https://t.co/KvJSm76SXN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2016
Valencia bagged his second assist of the night when he set up Antonio Valencia for Ecuador’s fourth goal of the game, once again opting to unselfishly play the ball sideways to a wide open teammate rather than attempt a shot on goal himself.
Enner to Antonio Valencia for Ecuador's 4th. That' just too easy. #ECUvHAI #MyCopaColors https://t.co/9Se3HcgSfP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 13, 2016
Ecuador will face the USMNT in the quarterfinals Thursday night in Seattle, Wash., with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET. The two sides faced off in a pre-Copa friendly last month, won by the Yanks on Darlington Nagbe’s first international goal. Les Grenadiers will finish fourth in Group B, exiting the tournament without winning a single point and scoring just one goal in the process.