Preview: U.S. MNT and Ecuador square off in Copa America Centenario quarterfinals

When the United States Men’s National Team began its Copa America Centenario journey almost two weeks ago, advancing out of Group A was considered the minimum barometer for success. But A rocky start in the form of a 2-0 loss to Colombia cast doubt on the Americans’ chances of reaching the knockout stages and did little to quell lingering concerns after a largely disappointing 2015.

Since then, Jurgen Klinsmann’s side has responded with a pair of victories — a 4-0 demolition of Costa Rica and a hard-fought 1-0 result over Paraguay — to top the group and secure a spot in the Copa America Centenario quarterfinals on Thursday. Meeting the U.S. at CenturyLink Field in Seattle is an upstart Ecuador side that has similarly gained strength deeper into the tournament. 

The match will kick off at 8:30 p.m. CT on FS1, UniMas and Univision Deportes, and Kansas City supporters are invited to attend the official watch party at No Other Pub in the Power & Light District. The venue’s Copa America special gives fans a complementary appetizer when they sign up and order any beer pitcher.

• Daily Special: Make No Other Pub your home for Copa America

A man known for tinkering with lineups, Klinsmann has fielded the same starting XI in all three group stage contests. To put that rarity into perspective, this has happened just one other time in U.S. MNT history — at the 1930 World Cup. Signs of continuity were evident against Costa Rica and Paraguay — the U.S. has yet to concede a goal from the run of play this tournament — but now the German head coach will be forced to shuffle the deck. Right back DeAndre Yedlin picked up two yellow cards in the Group A finale and will serve a one-game suspension on Thursday. 

A ripple effect along the back line means Sporting Kansas City center back Matt Besler is in contention to make his first appearance of the tournament. Besler started for the U.S. in all four games at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and has no shortage of big-game experience. Defenders John Brooks, Geoff Cameron and Fabian Johnson are expected to retain their starting roles, with Brooks and Johnson both sitting on yellow cards.

Further up the field, Sporting Kansas City winger Graham Zusi has made three straight substitute appearances. He capped the Costa Rica victory with an emphatic individual effort, his fifth career international goal, and seems likely to remain Klinsmann’s No. 1 option off the bench. Clint Dempsey and Bobby Wood have both scored in recent games — despite both playing out of their natural positions — while the midfield triumvirate of Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley and Alejandro Bedoya has come a long way since struggling versus Colombia. All three, however, would be suspended for the semifinals if they pick up a caution in Thursday’s game.

• WATCH: Graham Zusi talks Copa America on U.S. Soccer's Facebook Live

Ecuador, No. 13 in the latest FIFA rankings, kicked off their Copa campaign with a spirited 0-0 draw against Brazil and an entertaining 2-2 tie in which La Tricolor erased a two-goal deficit against Peru with strikes from Enner Valencia and Miller Bolanos. The team sealed second place in Group B with a dominant 4-0 win over Haiti, highlighted by Valencia’s goal and two assists. Led by head coach Gustavo Quinteros, the Ecuadorians also rely heavily on midfielders Antonio Valencia, Jefferson Montero and Christian Noboa — all of whom have played at least six years in Europe’s top domestic leagues.

The U.S. and Ecuador are familiar foes, having met in a friendly just three weeks ago at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. A largely uneventful affair was settled by Darlington Nagbe’s 90th-minute goal, but both teams have raised their level of play since then and the stakes for Thursday are astronomically higher: both countries (Ecuador leads the series 5-3-5) are looking to make their first-ever appearance in a Copa America final.

Tonight's winner will progress to the semifinals next Tuesday at NRG Stadium in Houston, facing the winner between top-ranked Argentina and Venezuela who play Saturday.

Click here for the full Copa America Centenario schedule and results as eight remaining nations got to battle in the knockout stage.

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