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Villa keeper Brad Guzan has assumed the role of United States Mens National Team starting keeper for this year's Copa America. While the first two games of the tournament against Colombia and Costa Rica were pretty pedestrian for Guzan, he excelled for the first time in the tournament Saturday night against Paraguay. With the United States in need of either a win or draw to guarantee progression in the tournament, Guzan made 6 saves in helping lead the United States to an invaluable clean sheet.
The United States grabbed an early lead in the first half through Clint Dempsey in the 27th minute, but Brad Guzan was soon called into action. Guzan made a tidy near-post save just before the end of the first half, stopping Paraguay's Dario Lezcano's attempt to put his side level going into the break. Soon into the second half, Spurs and Sunderland defender DeAndre Yedlin somehow managed to compile two yellow cards in less than a minute, leaving Guzan and the American defense with the task of defending most of the second half with 10 men. Guzan remained confident on set pieces through the second half and made a few more unimpressive saves as the game progressed, but his best moment came just after the 80th minute as Paraguay, desperate to find the first of the two goals necessary to stay alive in the tournament, fired two shots at a sprawled Guzan in quick succession. Guzan was able to parry both shots to safety, surviving what was the closest Paraguay came to equalizing. Paraguay had the ball in the back of the net in the 88th minute, but the offside flag came to the USMNT and Guzan's rescue.
Guzan's performance Saturday was unlike most of what we saw last year with Villa and his situation at Villa remains a bit of a conundrum. What do you think Villa should do with the new American number one? Let us know!