GLENDALE, Ariz. — Carlos Bacca beat goalkeeper Tim Howard by sliding to poke in a headed cross in the 31st minute, and Colombia beat the United States 1-0 in the Copa America on Saturday night.
After losing to Argentina 4-0 in the semifinals, the 31st-ranked U.S. was beaten by No. 3 Colombia for the second time in the 16-nation tournament and finished fourth.
Bobby Wood came closest to scoring for the U.S. when he hit a post in the 62nd, one minute after Colombia’s Juan Cuadrado hit the underside of the crossbar.
The U.S. matched its previous best finish in the tournament, when it lost to Colombia in the 1995 third-place game at Uruguay.
After the Americans lost to Jamaica in the semifinals of last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup and struggled in the semifinal round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, U.S. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann was hoping his team would rebound in the Copa, when right back DeAndre Yedlin, central defender John Brooks, midfielder Gyasi Zardes and forward Bobby Wood solidified their positions as regular starters.
Darlington Nagbe and 17-year-old Christian Pulisic again entered as second-half subs, two more players who could break through and replace veterans during the remaining 16 months of World Cup qualifying.
Colombia, which never has won the Copa America, finished third for the fourth time but first since 1995. Argentina plays Chile for the title tonight in East Rutherford, N.J.