Carlos Tevez netted the winning penalty to seal his side's place inthe Copa America semi-finals after an astonishing shoot-out
New Boca Juniors signing Carlos Tevez struck the winning spot-kic
as Argentina defeated Colombia 5-4 on penalties after a goalless
90 minutes to book their place in the Copa America semi-finals.
Tevez netted with Argentina's seventh penalty after Lucas Biglia an
Marcos Rojo had both missed opportunities to claim victory from th
spot in Friday's Vina del Mar quarter-final clash.
It was no less than Argentina deserved after they dominated
throughout the 90 minutes, with only a massive display from
Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina ensuring the contest required a
shoot-out.
The Arsenal shot stopper's best moment was an amazing double
save in the 26th minute when he denied Sergio Aguero with his foo
before scrambling to palm Lionel Messi's follow-up header around t
post, with both shots coming from inside the six-yard box.
Colombia coach Jose Pekerman had made four changes to the team
that drew 0-0 with Peru in their final group encounter, with his
decision to drop misfiring striker Radamel Falcao the standout.
Jackson Martinez was promoted to lead the line, while Victor Ibarb
Alexander Mejia and Camilo Zuniga were also included as Pekerma
switched from a 4-2-2-2 to a 4-1-3-2 formation.
That decision did not work, however, and Pekerman made a change
midway through the first half with forward Teofilo Gutierrez
sacrificed in favour of midfielder Edwin Cardona as Argentina ran
riot, although it made little difference as Colombia finished the firs
half without a shot on goal.
As the second half wore on, Colombia began to gain a foothold in
the contest but struggled to test Argentina keeper Sergio Romero,
while Ospina kept a clean sheet at the other end.
Romero made just one save throughout the 90 minutes but was
impressive in the shoot-out before Tevez - who was confirmed as a
Boca Juniors player during the game - sent Argentina into the
last four.
It took just five minutes for Ospina to register his first save, with
the 26-year-old getting down low at his near post to parry Javier
Pastore's toe-poke.
Argentina had decent arguments for a penalty when Aguero and
Messi both went down in the box in the 20th minute, while the
former headed over soon after.
Ospina was sharply off his line just before the break to deny
Pastore, while he had to beat Angel di Maria to the ball outside h
box early in the second half.
James Rodriguez wasted an opportunity to shoot in the 67th minut
before Martinez produced Colombia's only shot on target, heading
straight at Romero from a corner.
Argentina hit the woodwork twice late in the game, with substitute
Ever Banega clipping the crossbar before Ospina produced another
stunning stop - palming Nicolas Otamendi's effort onto the post.
The ball rebounded along the goal-line before being cleared.
Colombia breathed another sigh of relief in the 88th minute when
Cristian Zapata almost put the ball past Ospina, only for Jeison
Murillo to produce a sliding clearance.
Eventually penalties were required, with the first six spot-kicks all
finding the net before Luis Muriel blasted over the bar with
Colombia's fourth.
After Ezequiel Lavezzi scored off the post, Romero almost denied
Cardona but the midfielder's penalty squeezed under him before
Biglia missed a chance to seal victory, sending the shoot-out into
sudden-death mode.
Amazingly, the next three penalty-takers then failed to score with
Romero denying Zuniga before Rojo clipped the bar and Murillo
matched Muriel's poor effort.
That left Tevez to calmly convert and decide the tie, with Argentina
booking a last-four date against either Brazil or Paraguay.
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