Vina Del Mar (Chile): Carlos Tevez fired Argentina into the semifinals of the Copa America, scoring the decisive spot-kick as the tournament favourites defeated Colombia 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out. Tevez, who missed the crucial penalty when Argentina went out in a shoot-out at the 2011 tournament, rammed homed the winning spot-kick after Colombia’s Jeison Murillo had blazed over the bar.
The 31-year-old, who came on as a second half substitute, provided the dramatic final twist to a shoot-out which saw Lucas Biglia and Marcos Rojo both miss kicks for Argentina that would have sealed victory after regulation time finished locked at 0-0. Argentina’s win puts them into a semifinal against the winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal between Brazil and Paraguay. Tevez admitted his contribution to victory four years after his nightmare miss sealed Argentina’s elimination from the 2011 tournament on home soil was sweet.
“In football there’s always a second chance,” said Tevez, who earlier on Friday sealed his move back boyhood club Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires. “But tonight is not about me, it’s about my teammates. My teammates won this match and I’m very proud of them, and I’m proud to be part of this squad,” the Juventus player added. Tevez, who spent three long years frozen out of Argentina’s national team before returning after the 2014 World Cup, said he was happy with his non-starting role in the Albiceleste.
“I enjoy playing, the team is playing well and I just have to wait for my chance,” Tevez further added. Argentina coach Gerardo Martino admitted that he had deliberately omitted Tevez from his list of five designated penalty takers for the shoot-out in order to ease pressure on the former Manchester City striker. Defeat was cruel on Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina, who had single-handedly kept his side in the contest with a series of superb saves during the regulation time of 90 minutes to frustrate the tournament favourites.
Argentina had earlier dominated a one-sided first half which at times threatened to spiral out of control with both sides committing a series of niggly fouls that went unpunished by Mexican referee Roberto Garcia. Colombia star James Rodriguez became the first of six players to receive a caution in the opening 45 minutes when he was booked for dissent in the match. By half time three more Colombians — Santiago Arias, Alexander Mejia and Juan Cuadrado — had earned yellow cards. For Argentina, both Javier Mascherano and Sergio Aguero were booked for their respective foul.
Uruguay complain over Jara incident
Uruguay’s FA will raise a formal complaint against Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara for provoking striker Edinson Cavani by sticking his finger up his backside during the hosts’ 1-0 Copa America quarterfinal win. Conmebol’s disciplinary committee will deal now with the incident.
