Argentina tops Colombia 5-4 in shootout, reaches Copa semis
Jun 26, 2015, 8:06 PM
Argentina's players jump over Carlos Tevez after scored the winning penalty kick against Colombia during a Copa America quarterfinal soccer match at the Sausalito Stadium in Vina del Mar, Chile, Friday, June 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
VINA DEL MAR, Chile (AP) — After dominating regulation without scoring and squandering two chances to win a shootout, Argentina advanced past Colombia and will play Brazil or Paraguay next week in the Copa America semifinals.
Carlos Tevez converted the winning spot kick to give Argentina a 5-4 win Friday night following a 0-0 tie.
“Incredible,” Argentina’s Lionel Messi said. “It was the best match we played in the Copa America.”
With Argentina needed to convert a kick to win the shootout, Lucas Biglia shot wide and Marcos Rojo hit the crossbar.
Triyng to win its first major title since the 1993 Copa America, Argentina next plays on Tuesday, a day after Chile hosts Peru in the first semifinal.
The Argentines had 75 percent possession in the first half, but goalkeeper David Ospina kept Colombia in the match.
“We were up against a great team,” Ospina said. “You have to acknowledge this. We tried to shut them down tactically.”
Ospina sprawled in the 26th minute and used his feet to stop Sergio Aguero on a point-blank shot. The ball bounced to Messi, who turned 28 on Wednesday, and the four-time world player of the year headed the ball toward an open net. Ospina then scrambled to his right to bat the shot away.
Ever Banega hit the crossbar in the 78th, and two minutes later Ospina batted Nicolas Otamendi’s shot off a post before a Colombian player cleared the ball off the line.
Tevez raced into the area in the 88th and collided with Ospina. The ball was rolling toward an open goal before Jeison Murillo cleared it off the line.
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