El Salvador v Jamaica, Gold Cup and Copa America: game threads and how to watch

Group C finishes matchday two in both competitions

By Jacob Landsberg@jhlands Jun 21, 2019, 3:02pm PDT

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Copa America matchday two finishes with Ecuador and Chile kicking off. Chile was given the keys to the castle when Uruguay couldn’t beat Japan and instead played to a riveting 2-2 draw. Chile can advance and control their own destiny for winning the group with a win over Ecuador.

Ecuador must get at least a draw to avoid elimination. Ecuador is without Jose Quinteros after the right back was sent off for elbowing Nico Lodeiro in the first match. Chile is looking to continue their domination after winning 4-0 over Japan. Japan was able to figure it out for the second match, can Chile?

Uruguay and Japan was one of the most exciting matches of the tournament so far. Uruguay went behind twice, both times equalizing seven minutes later. Japan’s first lead came via the counter attack and a tight angle shot from Koji Miyoshi. Miyoshi also scored Japan’s second in the 59th. The Uruguay first came via a Luis Suarez penalty. Edinson Cavani kicked Naomichi Ueda’s outstretched foot in the box and on video review won the penalty. Most importantly to Sounders fans, Uruguay’s second goal, to tie it up, came via Jose Gimenez’s head. The header was from Nico Lodeiro’s beautiful outswinging corner. The assist gives Lodeiro a goal and assist in the first two matches for Uruguay.

Uruguay’s draw still gives them an advantage, as they likely can advance via a draw with Chile, but a win would’ve guaranteed they advance.

Jamaica was cruising until they weren’t. In the first match, they played in their home stadium against Honduras and quickly grabbed a goal. Then managed to find a second moments before halftime. Up 2-0 at home against a weaker Honduras side should be good, right? Nope. Honduras came out on the attack and found a quick goal. Unfortunately for Honduras, Jamaica grabbed a goal right back via former Sounder Damion Lowe. Honduras was hard-done by some big Andre Blake saves before finding their second in stoppage. They fell just short in their comeback.

Honduras, if they show the same fight they did in the second half, should have no problem disposing of Curacao. El Salvador eked out a 1-0 win with a first half stoppage time goal. The match combined for 12 shots which makes it sound even more interesting than it was. El Salvador will likely fall to Jamaica but if the Green and Yellow fall asleep, as they did in the second half against Honduras, there could be an opening.

Group B’s matches were less exciting than Group A’s second matchday, but that was expected. Haiti and Costa Rica each grabbed the expected wins, though neither looked as convincing as expected. That said, who cares? Both did enough to win their matches, sit on six points, and clinch a top-two finish in the group. The final matchday will be for who gets to be the one seed and play Canada, most likely, versus who has to play tournament favorite Mexico in the quarterfinals.

What to Watch?

Which Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas show up? There is no doubt that Sanchez had a poor season with Manchester United and Eduardo Vargas is starting to turn it on with UANL Tigres, but prior to this season rarely found the back of the net. The duo combined for three of the four goals. If they continue showing up in national team form, then Ecuador beware.
We didn’t get to see much of Ecuador’s plan in the first match, going down early and then going down a man, so what do they do here? Do they sit back and defend against a strong Chilean attack, or do they go fast and try to overrun the Chilean backline? Expect them to sit back and absorb pressure and then get out on the break.
Xaivier Arreaga hopefully he gets a start and Sounders fans get to watch him.
Curacao and El Salvador were unimpressive in their first matches. Both play better teams in game two; will they show up with more? Neither boast the playmakers that “minnow” sides Martinique and Honduras have, they’ll have to rely on capitalizing on errors and not making any themselves. Watch the goal scorer Nelson Bonilla to be the catalyst again for El Salvador.
Jamaica fell asleep in the second half and almost drew Honduras, watch for them to be smarter this time. They’ll likely push for goals in the first half again to get on the front foot —through Dever Orgill again — but this time they won’t sit back in the second and try to wait it out. Orgill could pass Uriel Atuana for top goal scorer tonight.
Honduras was pushing late with Alberth Elis and Dallas’ Bryan Acosta. Acosta may have done enough to win enough to start. Even if not, expect him to be an impact sub around the 65th again. Will Honduras have the quality to finish in front of goal, they had great chances but couldn’t convert last time out.

How to Watch?

Ecuador v. Chile

Group: C (Copa America)

Location: Fonte Nova Arena, Salvador, Brazil

Date and time: June 20, 2019, 4 PM PT

TV: Telemundo (Spanish)

Streaming: ESPN+ (affiliate link), Telemundo, FuboTV (affiliate link)H