Goals from Clint Dempsey and Gyasi Zardes gave the US enough of a cushion to survive a late Ecuador surge in the second half as each side finished with ten players.
For the first hour of the game, the United States seemed very well in control of their quarterfinal match with Ecuador.
Gyasi Zardes had just doubled the US lead 65th minute, but with both teams down to 10 men, Ecuador stormed back with a late flurry and a Michael Arroyo goal in the 74th as the Americans defeated Ecuador 2-1 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle to advance to the Copa America 2016 semifinals.