U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann wants a ‘knockout’ peformance

Let’s go for it.

Because if you’re not going for it, sooner or later, they’re going to break you down.

After beating Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday night despite playing nearly the entire second half a man down, the U.S. won Group A on goal difference over Colombia and advanced to a quarterfinal in Seattle against Ecuador, Peru or Brazil.

When the U.S. played Belgium in the second round of the 2014 World Cup, the Americans extended the game to extra time only because of goalkeeper Tim Howard’s outstanding play.

Aside from the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Americans’ only knockout-stage wins in competitive events have been over Mexico in the second round of the 2002 World Cup, against Spain in the semifinals of the 2009 Confederations Cup and over Mexico on penalty kicks in the 1995 Copa America quarterfinals.

In the 2009 Confederations Cup final, they wasted a two-goal lead in a 3-2 loss to Brazil.