COPA AMERICA MOVE INTO THE SEMI-FINALS
Decisive penalties in the two most eagerly-awaited quarter-final matches: Lautaro`s Argentina scored their last penatly to go through, while Brazil lose to Uruguay and leave the competition. Canada and Colombia the other two semi-finalists
Argentina and Brazil, two symbolic nations in South American football, will no longer be able to meet in the final for a rematch of the last edition of the Copa America. Both teams faced more complicated quarter-finals than expected, united by the tension of a penalty shootout, but different in the outcome. The Albiceleste remain in the running and now prepare to take on Canada in the semi-final; Brazil say goodbye early at the hands of Uruguay.
Argentina went through by the skin of their teeth against a physical but imprecise Ecuador on penalties.
Lautaro Martínez (Inter), lined up in the starting XI alongside Leo Messi, was replaced by Julián Álvarez in the 65th minute, while Nico González (Fiorentina) played the entire game in the left-midfield role. The Albiceleste took the lead through Lisandro López but were pegged back in stoppage time by the "Tricolor" through Rodriguez, saving themselves following Valencia’s penalty miss. Messi opened up the penalty shootout by hitting the crossbar but, fortunately for Scaloni, "Dibu" Martínez kept out Ecuador`s first two attempts. Otamendi scored the penalty to make it 4-2 to send the reigning champions through.
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However, the adventure of Venezuela`s Yordan Osorio (Parma), a permanent starter for the "Vinotinto" and replaced only in the 91st minute in the quarter-final against Canada, ended on penalties. The Canucks, without Inter player Buchanan due to injury, won 4-3 on pens to go to the semi-finals on their first appearance in the competition.
Coach Néstor Lorenzo`s Colombia lit up the tournament against Panama to clinch a 5-0 drubbing against the Central American side and move on. There was space only on the bench for Yerry Mina (Cagliari), with Lucumí (Bologna) out injured.
In the last scheduled quarter-final, Uruguay and Brazil canceled each other out during the two regular periods and the match went to penalties, despite the former Cagliari player Nandez being sent off and leaving his team to play with ten men for thirty minutes. From the spot, Éder Militão and the new Juventus player Douglas Luiz both missed (post for the Juventus midfielder): the Celeste ran out 4-2 winners on pens to return to the final four in the competition for the first time in 13 years. The Seleçao’s journey with captain Danilo (Juventus), Ederson (Atalanta) - only one appearance - and Bremer (Juventus), never used in the tournament, ends early. Among Bielsa`s men, there was another great game from Mathías Olivera (Napoli), solid in defence and a threat on balls into the opponent`s area.
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The semi-final schedule (Italian time):
- 10 July, 02:00 CEST, Argentina vs. Canada
- 11 July, 02:00 CEST, Uruguay vs. Colombia
(Photo Getty Images)
09 lug 2024
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