COPA AMERICA 2011
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| Copa America |
COLOMBIA 0-2 PERU aet
ARGENTINA 1-1 URUGUAY aet; 1-1 at 90mins; Uruguay won 5-4 on penalties.
Peru and Uruguay are the surprise semi-finalists after Colombia and host nation Argentina fell by the wayside yesterday.
The Peruvians needed two extra-time goals in Cordoba to overcome Colombia, who hit the woodwork twice adn missed a second-half penalty through Falcao.
Peru's Carlos Lobaton rifled in one of the goals of the tournament after Colombia goalkeeper Luis Martinez palmed a cross into his path. With the coffee-growers piling forward in search of a leveller, Juan Vargas killed the game in the 111th minute on the counter.
Peru, bottom of CONMEBOL qualifiers for the last World Cup, are now in the last four of the Copa America for the first time since 1983. Their enigmatic coach Sergio Makarian, who is fond of biblical references, did not disappoint again:
"Glory to God for this victory!" he said, adding with no sense of irony, "Today we have taken a big step, not only in the Copa America, but for the world!"
The big clash in Santa Fe did not disappoint, with thrills and spills aplenty and the eventual elimination of the host nation.
Uruguay took the lead in the sixth minute through Diego Perez but Argentina equalised ten minutes later when Gonzalo Higuain nodded Lionel Messi's curling ball beyond Uruguayan custodian Fernando Muslera. Perez turned from hero to villain with a red card before half-time, a punishment matched by Javier Mascherano for a tackle on Luis Suarez near the end of the 90 minutes.
Argentina missed a string of chances in extra-time before losing on penalties when Carlos Tevez's kick was saved.
Peru and Uruguay square up in the semi-final on Tuesday.
Today: Brazil v Paraguay, Chile v Venezuela
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile