Copa America: Ospina heroics take Colombia into semi-finals

Goalkeeper makes crucial save in penalty-shootout to knock Peru out

EAST RUTHERFORD: Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina was the hero as Colombia slayed their penalty shoot-out jinx to defeat Peru and advance to the semi-finals of the Copa America Centenario on Friday.

Ospina pulled off a superb save deep into injury time to deny Peru a goal before saving a spot-kick from Peru defender Miguel Trauco in the shoot-out to clinch a nail-biting win for Colombia.

A largely disappointing quarter-final in front of 79,194 fans at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium was settled in penalties after the two sides finished 90 minutes deadlocked at 0-0.

After Colombia drilled their first three penalties, the tide turned in their favour when Trauco saw his effort blocked by Ospina.



Sebastian Perez then scored Colombia’s fourth penalty to put his 4-2 up and when Peru’s Christian Cueva blasted his spot-kick over the bar, Colombia were through.

Victory was especially sweet for Colombia, who had exited the competition last year at the same stage to Argentina.

“Sometimes you win sometimes you lose, and today luck was on our side in the penalties,” said Colombia’s James Rodriguez. “Our goal was to get into the semi-finals at least and we’ve done that. Now we want to win the title,” the Real Madrid star added.

Goalkeeper Ospina said he believed Colombia could reach the June 26 final.



“I contributed my bit, and we want to keep going from here,” said Ospina. “We can get to the final. The semi will be tough regardless of whoever we face.”

The tone for a niggly encounter was set in the first 18 minutes, which saw no fewer than 11 fouls committed, mostly coming from Peru.

The stop-start nature of the contest hampered Colombia’s attempts to build momentum and made for a mostly frustrating half for the talented 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists.

The most notable incidents in the remainder of the half were a series of meaty clashes which left players from both sides rolling on the turf at various times.



The bruising nature of the game continued after the break, with Renato Tapia lucky not to concede a penalty in the 53rd minute after a blatant barge on Carlos Bacca in the box which went unpunished.

The frustration of Colombia’s players also began to show, with Cristian Zapata and Farid Diaz both picking up yellow cards within a few minutes of each other midway through the second half.

The pattern of play continued as the minutes wore down, with neither side creating much in the way of clear-cut chances.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2016.

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