Showing posts with label Amrica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amrica. Show all posts

Monday, July 18, 2011

Colombia 0-2 Peru | Copa América match report

Peru Peruvian midfielder Juan Vargas celebrates after making it 2-0 against Colombia, Photograph: Antonio Scorza/AFP/Getty Images

Carlos Lobaton and Juan Vargas scored in extra time to help unfancied Peru beat Colombia 2-0 and reach the semi-finals of the Copa America for the first time since 1983.

Peru, who qualified from their group as the best third-placed team, will now face the winner of the quarter-final between Argentina and Uruguay, and will be hopeful of pulling off another shock. Colombia dominated much of the match and even missed a penalty in the 66th minute, Radamel Falcao firing wide of the left post after Alberto Rodriguez's foul on Dayro Moreno.

Colombia started the brighter of the two sides and created several opportunities. Abel Aguilar shot wide early on, before Falcao struck a shot over the bar just after the half-hour mark. Raul Fernandez also had to dive bravely at Falcao's feet to deny the dangerous striker.

Peru gradually came back into the match, and forced Luis Martinez into his first save after 34 minutes, the Colombian goalkeeper tipping aside Vargas's effort from 20 yards. However, at the start of the second half, Colombia had several chances to take the lead, not least when Falcao missed his penalty. Moreno went even closer, only for his fierce drive to hit the bar.

Colombia did not have it all their own way, though, and needed Martinez to push over Adan Balbin's dipping shot from 25 yards. Even so, they still could have avoided extra time when Fredy Guarin beat two Peru defenders and forced Fernandez into a good save.

Having survived that scare, Peru took full advantage in extra time. After 102 minutes they were gifted the opener when Martinez came to collect a free-kick by Vargas, only to spill it at the feet of Lobaton, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the area.

Ten minutes later, with Colombia pressing for an equaliser, striker Guerrero took possession in a counterattack and passed to Vargas, who rifled the ball home to seal a famous victory for Peru.


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Uruguay beat Argentina on penalties to reach last four of Copa América

Diego Forlan celebrates after Uruguay beat Argentina Diego Forlan celebrates after Uruguay beat Argentina on penalties to reach the semi-final of the Copa America. Photograph: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

Uruguay stunned reached the Copa America semi-finals at the expense of Argentina with a 5-4 penalty shootout victory following a 1-1 draw after extra time. The Uruguay goalkeeper, Fernando Muslera, was in inspired form making several important saves throughout the match but none bigger than when he stopped Carlos Tevez's effort in the shootout to send the hosts spinning out of the tournament.

Uruguay shocked the home side by taking the lead in the sixth minute from a set piece. Diego Forlan's inswinging free kick from the left was headed back across goal by defender Martin Caceres and midfielder Diego Perez slid in to score.

But Argentina equalised 11 minutes later when Lionel Messi sent in a delightful curling cross towards the far post where Gonzalo Higuain ghosted in behind the defence to glance a header past Muslera.

Uruguay were reduced to 10 men in the 38th minute when Perez, who had been booked for going in on Javier Mascherano with his studs showing, was shown another yellow card for a bodychech on Gonzalo Huguain.

Argentina were unable to make the added man count with Muslera frustrating Higuain with a stunning reflex save. Indeed the 10-men of Uruguay could have won the game when Forlan raced onto to a through ball from Luis Suarez but the Argentina goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, was quick off his line to block.

Argentina were reduced to 10-men when captain Mascherano was sent off three minutes from the end of the 90 minutes for a harsh second booking.

Extra time failed to separate the sides and so the game went to penalties. Uruguay scored all five of their spot kicks and Muslera was the hero when he stopped Tevez's blasted effort.

The World Cup semi-finalists will now face Peru in Tuesday's semi-final.


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