SOCCER:PARAGUAY PUT holders Brazil out of the Copa América when they beat them 2-0 on penalties following a 0-0 draw after extra time in their quarter-final in La Plata, Argentina last night.
Brazil dominated the 120 minutes of playing time and created a string of chances which the Paraguay defence repelled with goalkeeper and captain Justo Villar outstanding.
The teams were down to 10 men each from the 13th minute of extra time after a scramble for the ball by several players on one side of the pitch developed into a free-for-all with Paraguay defender Antolin Alcaraz and Brazil midfielder Lucas Leiva sent off.
Uruguay had reached the semi-finals at the expense of Argentina with a 5-4 penalty shootout victory following a 1-1 draw after extra time on Saturday night. 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 Forlán’s inswinging free-kick from the left was headed back across goal by defender Martín Cáceres and midfielder Diego Pérez 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 Pérez, who had been booked for going in on Javier Mascherano with his studs showing, was shown another yellow card for a bodycheck on Gonzalo Higuaín.
Argentina were unable to make the added man count with Muslera frustrating Higuaín 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 Suárez 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 tomorrow’s semi-final. Carlos Lobatón and Juan Vargas scored in extra time to help unfancied Peru beat Colombia 2-0 and reach the semi-finals of the tournament the first time since 1983.
Peru, who qualified from their group as the best third-placed team, 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 Rodríguez’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. Peru gradually came back into the match, and forced Luis Martínez 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 Martínez to push over Adan Balbín’s dipping shot from 25 yards. Even so, they still could have avoided extra time when Fredy Guarín beat two Peru defenders and forced Fernández into a good save.
