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USMNT are one game away from their goal of a top-four finish, and head to Seattle on Thursday for a quarterfinal match against Ecuador. A team that USA defeated in pre-tournament friendlies, Ecuador are an athletic team that are more than capable of sending the hosts packing.
Here’s a look at all the betting information you need to know, along with a prediction for Tuesday’s match:
USA vs. Ecuador Betting Info
Spread: Pick, with USA -125 & Ecuador -110
Moneyline: USA (+155), Ecuador (+170), Draw (+195)
Over/Under: Over 2 (-145), Under 2 (+110)
Prediction
The biggest matchup for Thursday’s match will be on the outside, where USA will be without one of their fastest players. DeAndre Yedlin has struggled at Copa America, and that was never more evident then during his two yellow cards over the course of one minute against Paraguay. That forces the right back out of the picture for Thursday, and Jurgen Klinsmann will likely turn to Michael Orozco as his replacement.
The outsides are a place where USA struggle when playing top teams. That’s where the opponents best athletes and dangerous offensive players roam, and Ecuador are no exception. Ecuador go as their wingers go, and Enner Valencia and Miller Bolaños have had lots of success in this tournament.
In their friendly last month, both teams went scoreless until USA broke the deadlock in injury time. Darlington Nagbe scored the winner, Brad Guzan kept a clean sheet, and the match was a great confidence builder for the squad heading into the tournament. Ecuador’s Bolaños-Valencia duo had a chance in the 14th minute, but it was stuffed by John Brooks.
Brooks, along with Guzan at the back, have been USA’s best assets in this tournament. The team has back-to-back clean sheets heading into Thursday’s match, and looked especially strong at the back after going down to 10 men against Paraguay.
Like in the first meeting last month, tonight’s quarterfinal will come down to the final minutes. Of course I’m going USA, but Ecuador will get one thanks to Enner Valencia, who has scored four of Ecuador’s last seven Copa America goals.
Prediction: 3-1 United States
Best Bet: Dempsey & Enner Valencia to both score (+500)
Find out how to watch this game in Spanish at AhoraMismo.com: