Argentina pay the penalty
Uruguay dump favourites out of Copa America as Tevez misses crucial spot-kick.
SANTA FE:
Uruguay shocked hosts Argentina 5-4 on penalties to win their Copa America quarter-final, after the score was locked at 1-1 after extra time.
Carlos Tevez missed the crucial penalty as Argentina crashed out to extend a trophy drought going back to 1993.
Both sides ended the 90 minutes with 10 men, with goal-scorer Perez sent off after 38 minutes and Argentina captain Javier Mascherano in the 86th minute.
The extra half-hour failed to end the stalemate and Martin Caceres drove home the winning penalty, as Uruguay moved into a semi-final against Peru.
Uruguay broke the deadlock just five minutes into the contest, as Perez slid the ball home from close range. Argentina, however, hit back and Lionel Messi inspired the equaliser, conjuring an exquisite cross from the right which Gonzalo Higuain netted in the 17th minute.
On the half-hour, Higuain headed in a Messi free-kick, only to be adjudged fractionally offside. Martin Cacares then drove home for the Uruguayans but also saw his effort ruled out for offside.
With no more goals in normal-time, Argentina coach Sergio Batista brought on Carlos Tevez, who combined with Messi, but the Barcelona man was crowded out and the shootout became unavoidable.
“We work to win and I think we really played very well,” said Batista, after the loss.
“We did not play badly, we made chances... but we will keep on plugging away to raise our game.”
Asked if he might think about stepping down, Batista said, “That is not something going through my head. Going out hurts, but you have to continue.”
‘Our confidence is on
the rise’
Meanwhile, Uruguay striker Luis Suarez believes the players are brimming with confidence. “We knew it would be a tough Copa but confidence is on the rise,” said Suarez.
“We were a man down for almost the whole of the second-half so it was a huge effort. The idea of beating Argentina was extra motivation.”
Peru upset Colombia
Earlier, Peru shocked Colombia to reach the semi-finals with a 2-0 win in extra-time.
Colombia had won their group at the expense of hosts Argentina and, with highly-rated striker Radamel Falcao in their ranks, were expected to reach the semis.
Falcao, however, was left kicking himself after the Porto forward missed a penalty in normal time for the 2001 champions.
Carlos Lobaton smashed home the opener 11 minutes into extra-time and six minutes into the second extra period Juan Vargas drove in a left-foot shot to clinch a famous win.
Peru had their chances in normal time, a Vargas shot repulsed by Colombian keeper Luis Martinez, who then had to be alert after the break to save well with his fingertips from William Chiroque.
However, it was a Martinez error which helped break the deadlock, as he fumbled an attempted punched clearance and Lobaton reacted in a flash to blast the ball past him and into the net.
The Peruvians then delivered the coup de grace on the counter-attack as Guerrero fed Vargas, who drilled another fierce effort home.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2011.
Uruguay shocked hosts Argentina 5-4 on penalties to win their Copa America quarter-final, after the score was locked at 1-1 after extra time.
Carlos Tevez missed the crucial penalty as Argentina crashed out to extend a trophy drought going back to 1993.
Both sides ended the 90 minutes with 10 men, with goal-scorer Perez sent off after 38 minutes and Argentina captain Javier Mascherano in the 86th minute.
The extra half-hour failed to end the stalemate and Martin Caceres drove home the winning penalty, as Uruguay moved into a semi-final against Peru.
Uruguay broke the deadlock just five minutes into the contest, as Perez slid the ball home from close range. Argentina, however, hit back and Lionel Messi inspired the equaliser, conjuring an exquisite cross from the right which Gonzalo Higuain netted in the 17th minute.
On the half-hour, Higuain headed in a Messi free-kick, only to be adjudged fractionally offside. Martin Cacares then drove home for the Uruguayans but also saw his effort ruled out for offside.
With no more goals in normal-time, Argentina coach Sergio Batista brought on Carlos Tevez, who combined with Messi, but the Barcelona man was crowded out and the shootout became unavoidable.
“We work to win and I think we really played very well,” said Batista, after the loss.
“We did not play badly, we made chances... but we will keep on plugging away to raise our game.”
Asked if he might think about stepping down, Batista said, “That is not something going through my head. Going out hurts, but you have to continue.”
‘Our confidence is on
the rise’
Meanwhile, Uruguay striker Luis Suarez believes the players are brimming with confidence. “We knew it would be a tough Copa but confidence is on the rise,” said Suarez.
“We were a man down for almost the whole of the second-half so it was a huge effort. The idea of beating Argentina was extra motivation.”
Peru upset Colombia
Earlier, Peru shocked Colombia to reach the semi-finals with a 2-0 win in extra-time.
Colombia had won their group at the expense of hosts Argentina and, with highly-rated striker Radamel Falcao in their ranks, were expected to reach the semis.
Falcao, however, was left kicking himself after the Porto forward missed a penalty in normal time for the 2001 champions.
Carlos Lobaton smashed home the opener 11 minutes into extra-time and six minutes into the second extra period Juan Vargas drove in a left-foot shot to clinch a famous win.
Peru had their chances in normal time, a Vargas shot repulsed by Colombian keeper Luis Martinez, who then had to be alert after the break to save well with his fingertips from William Chiroque.
However, it was a Martinez error which helped break the deadlock, as he fumbled an attempted punched clearance and Lobaton reacted in a flash to blast the ball past him and into the net.
The Peruvians then delivered the coup de grace on the counter-attack as Guerrero fed Vargas, who drilled another fierce effort home.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2011.