Playing before a boisterous and almost completely partisan home crowd in the soccer-mad Pacific Northwest, the US won a knockout game against a nation outside its region for only the second time and will play Argentina or Venezuela on Tuesday in Houston.
Dempsey's 52nd international goal, five behind Landon Donovan's American record, put the US ahead in the 22nd minute. Zardes guided Dempsey's cross into the net in the 65th for his sixth goal and a 2-0 lead.
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Michael Arroyo scored for Ecuador in the 74th minute, making for a tense ending, and Enner Valencia missed a pair of great chances moment later on a pair of headers.
Midfielder Jermaine Jones was shown a red card during a 52nd-minute confrontation that also saw Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia sent off after a second yellow card for a harsh tackle on Alejando Bedoya along the sideline.
Jones will be suspended for the semifinal along with US midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and Bobby Wood, who both got their second yellow cards of the tournament.
Ecuador manager Gustavo Quinteros also appeared to be sent off late in the match.
Captain Michael Bradley wore a rainbow armband in honour of those killed in the Orlando, Florida, nighclub shooting last weekend.
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