LA PLATA:
Paraguay dumped holders Brazil out of the Copa America, winning a quarter-final penalty shootout 2-0 after a poor match ended goalless after extra-time.
A day after hosts Argentina slid out to Uruguay, also on penalties, the shocks kept coming as Venezuela reached the semi-finals for the first time with a gutsy 2-1 win over fancied Chile.
Oswaldo Vizcarrondo gave Venezuela a 34th-minute lead only for Humberto Suazo to level in the second half.
But just as extra-time seemed to be on the way, Gabriel Cichero struck again to spark scenes of joy among the travelling Venezuelan fans and leave the Chileans, four-times finalists, stunned.
The giant-killers will now go up against the Paraguayans, whose last title came in 1979, in a Wednesday semi at Mendoza after Uruguay first take on Peru at La Plata.
Venezuelan coach Cesar Farias was delighted. “The happiness we feel gives us the desire to keep on in the same vein,” said Farias.“Paraguay are a strong team and they will start favourites.”
The Venezuelans will also have do without Tomas Rincon who was red-carded in injury-time for some shirt pulling.
Brazil ousted
But the real shock of the day was Brazil – not so much for their exit but the apparent paucity of their ambition.
They had chances when Ganso and Pato brought good saves from Justo Villar in the Paraguayan goal and Fred, who rescued a dramatic draw between the two nations a week earlier in the group stage, had a header cleared off the line.
Marcelo Estigarribia and Christian Riveros converted for the Paraguayans while Elano, Thiago Silva, Andre Santos and Fred missed for the eight-time continental champions.
“When you lose you know you made some mistakes,” said Brazil coach Mano Menezes, who partly blamed the poor state of the penalty spot for the dreadful finale.
“But this happens in football and we have to live with it. The object has always been to get a strong team together for the World Cup in 2014.”
Brazil forward Robinho tried to take the defeat positively.
“I think we played a good Copa overall. But now we must keep our heads up and go on to lift the World Cup,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2011.
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