Some crazy stuff going on in Argentina and the hosts and powerhouse Brazil both saw their respective title runs end abruptly on penalties. Additionally, Venezuela continued their surprising run, as did Peru leaving a Final Four of Paraguay (who has yet to win a game in regulation), Venezuela (ranked 9th out of 10 in the region), Peru and Uruguay. Here's a quick recap of how it all went down this weekend:
PERU 2 COLOMBIA 0
Peru is in the Copa America semifinals for the first time since 1997 following a 2-0 overtime win against Colombia. Both sides were held scoreless in the first 90 minutes as Colombia failed to convert a golden opportunity in the second half when Alberto Rodriguez brought down striker Dayro Moreno in the box, but Radamel Falcao Garcia's penalty missed the target wide left. Peru finally broke through in the 101st minute when Colombian keeper Luis Enrique Martinez failed to control a long ball driven into the box and it deflected out to Carlos Lobaton who blistered a shot through several defenders and in for the 1-0 lead, his first career goal for Peru's national team. Captain Juan Manuel Vargas, who plays for Fiorentina in Italy's Serie A, ended any hope of a Colombian comeback when following a turnover by Martinez, he converted on a 2 on 1 to make the score 2-0 and all but assure Peru a ticket to the next round. It was a disappointing result for Colombia who did not concede a goal during Group Play. Peru now gets a second chance against Uruguay who they tied 1-1 back on July 4th in their tournament opener.
URUGUAY 1 ARGENTINA 1 - Uruguay wins 5-4 on penalty kicks
Argentina's drought without a major trophy continues as they fell to Uruguay on penalty kicks on Saturday night. Uruguay got on the board first in this one when Diego Perez knocked a rebound just across the goal line before it was cleared away by the Argentinian defense in the 5th minute. Argentina would come right back though with Lionel Messi lofting a perfectly weighted pass to Gonzalo Higuaín whose header tied the game at 1. Argentina had all kinds of chances the rest of the way outshooting Uruguay 18-8, but Lazio keeper Fernando Muslera just kept making stop after stop finishing the night with 9 saves. Uruguay even survived a 48 minute span in which they were forced to play down a man after the goal scorer Perez was sent off in the 38th minute with his second yellow card. Argentina's captain Javier Mascherano would letter be sent off himself following his second yellow in the 86th minute. Muslera's big night would continue when the match went to penalties as he denied Manchester City Forward Carlos Tévez in the third round while Uruguay's shooters never missed en route to the 5-4 victory. Uruguay now gets a shot at redemption against Peru who they tied in their opening match.
PARAGUAY 0 BRAZIL 0 - Paraguay wins 2-0 on penalty kicks
Paraguay hasn't won a game in regulation yet this tournament after drawing three times in Group Play and playing Brazil to a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes, but still have found their way to the Copa America semifinals. Brazil outshot Paraguay 16-4, but Justo Villar, the 34 year old keeper and team captain for Paraguay was up to the task making 8 saves. The round of PKs couldn't have gone any worse for Brazil as all four of their shooters failed to convert with Villar denying Thiago Silva and Elano, Andre Santos and Fred all missing the target. It's the first time in over two decades that Paraguay has reached the Copa America semifinals where they'll now take on Venezuela. Brazil, who won the previous two tournaments comes away disappointed having won just one match in the tournament and being shutout twice, once by the Venezuelans and once by Paraguay.
VENEZUELA 2 CHILE 1
Venezuela's surprising run at the Copa America continues following their surprising 2-1 win over Chile. The only team in the South American confederation who has never played in a World Cup is now unbeaten in 4 matches defeating Chile despite being outshot 13-7. Venezuela managed to get only 3 shots on goal, but two of them found the back of the net. Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, the 27 year old defender, opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a header off a set piece but Chile would battle back hitting the post twice and having several other the balls cleared off the backline. Monterrey striker Humberto Suazo finally got Chile on the board when his short range blast deflected off the bottom of the crossbar and in to tie the game at 1. But Venezuela, despite being outplayed down the stretch took advantage of another set piece in the Chilean half when Claudio Bravo was unable to handle a shot and Gabriel Cichero knocked it home for the game winner. This will be the first time Venezuela has ever played in the Copa America semifinals and they'll take on Paraguay. The two sides played to a 3-3 draw in Group Play when Venezuela erased a 3-1 deficit with goals in the 89th and 90th minutes.
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