When the full-time whistle blew in Seattle on Thursday night, Jurgen Klinsmann breathed a sigh of relief. The majority of a near-50,000 crowd did too, with the United States through to the Copa America Centenario semi-finals after beating Ecuador 2-1.
The outcome of a game that grew into an enthralling encounter, particularly after both sides were reduced to 10 men with Jermaine Jones and Antonio Valencia dismissed, was that the Copa hosts reached the semis for the first time since 1995.
They are now eagerly awaiting Saturday's clash between Argentina and Venezuela in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which determines who their opponent will be in Houston on Tuesday.