Copa America 2015 – semi-final – Argentina beat Paraguay 6-1

Argentina beat Paraguay 6-1

• ·        Manchester United's Marcos Rojo gave Argentina the lead after 15 minutes
• ·        Javier Pastore doubled Argentina's lead against Paraguay after 27 minutes
• ·        Lionel Messi assisted both as Argentina seemingly marched to the final
• ·        But Paraguay got back into it through substitute Lucas Barrios's strike
• ·        Angel di Maria restored Argentina's two-goal lead after 47 minutes 
• ·        The Manchester United attacker then added another six minutes later 
• ·         Sergio Aguero made it 5-1 before Gonzalo Higuain made it six

Argentina Vs Paraguay 6-1 Highlights 01-07-2015 Copa America by Eye Highlights

The Barcelona star didn't find the net but was at his creative best as Tata Martino's side cruised through to the Copa America final in Concepcion

Argentina moved a step closer to ending a 22-year major trophy drought, reaching the Copa America final with a 6-1 win over Paraguay.

Gerardo Martino's men were dominant and an Angel di Maria brace early in the second half helped them secure their win in Concepcion.

Lionel Messi had set up first-half goals for Marcos Rojo and Javier Pastore, only for Lucas Barrios to give Paraguay hope.

But Pastore and Messi continued running the show in the second half as Di Maria ensured Argentina's place in Saturday's decider against Chile.

Sergio Aguero headed in a fifth and the man who replaced him immediately – Gonzalo Higuain – also struck after a pass from Messi, who completed the pass laying down.

Taking on Martino's former team, Argentina started well and built on that – but victory only looked safe after the pair of goals early in the second half.

Messi was at the heart of most of their attacking moves, assisting three goals and playing a huge part in two others.

In that form, the Barcelona superstar may yet lead Argentina to their first major title since the 1993 Copa America.

Martino's side were rewarded for their promising start with the opener 15 minutes in.

Messi's set-piece from the left eventually fell to Rojo, who side-footed in a simple finish from close range.

Argentina perhaps should have doubled their lead eight minutes later.

Messi was at the centre of the attack again as he ran at the Paraguay defence before finding Pastore, who opted to take a touch before seeing his shot saved by Justo Villar.

The duo would combine to make it 2-0 for Argentina in the 27th minute.

Messi picked out Pastore's well-angled run and the Paris Saint-Germain man found the bottom corner with a fine finish.

Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz was forced into two substitutions before the half-hour mark, and one of his introductions had the desired impact.

Bruno Valdez intercepted an Argentine clearance and headed into the path of Barrios, who buried his chance from the edge of the area.

Paraguay's hopes of another comeback – they came from behind in three of their four games at the tournament – were dealt a huge blow early in the second half.

It was Pastore's time to turn provider as he slid Di Maria through and the Manchester United attacker finished clinically into the bottom corner.

Messi's run soon after led to a five-on-one situation that Argentina capitalised on when Di Maria put away a rebound following Pastore being denied.

And Martino's side added a fifth through an Aguero header and Higuain also scored as they saw out a huge victory.

Copa America 2015 – Semi-final – Chile 2-1 Peru

Eduardo Vargas double wins semi-final for hosts after underdogs have Carlos Zambrano sent off just 20 minutes in

• Peru's Carlos Zambrano was harshly sent off after just 20 minutes
• Eduardo Vargas opened the scoring just before half-time for Chile
• A Gary Medel own goal saw 10-man Peru equalize in the 60th minute
• Vargas scored his second of the night with a beautiful strike to make it 2-1 
• Hosts Chile have booked their place in the final of the Copa America after a double from Eduardo Vargas
  

Chile 2-1 Peru | Full English Highlights 29.06.2015 Semi-Final Copa América by Zidanekrisz

The Napoli-owned striker bagged two on the night, both opening the scoring and netting a superb winning goal

Eduardo Vargas' stunning strike sent Chile into their first Copa America final since 1987, after a controversial red card to Peru's Carlos Zambrano gave the tournament hosts a big advantage.

Referee Jose Argote expelled Zambrano in the first half, leaving Peru to play 70 minutes with 10 players and, despite a brave performance from Ricardo Gareca's men, Chile eventually prevailed 2-1 in Santiago thanks to a brace from Vargas.

The Napoli striker opened the scoring in the 42nd minute in borderline comical circumstances, scuffing his initial shot before rolling the ball past Peru's prostrate goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

There was nothing slapstick about Vargas' second goal, however, with the 25-year-old thumping the ball over Gallese into the top corner from outside the box in the 64th minute, putting the home side back in front soon after Gary Medel's own goal had drawn Peru level.

With reports Bolivian referee Raul Orozco was initially selected to take charge of Monday's game before being replaced due to historical animosity between Bolivia and both Peru and Chile, stand-in official Argote was always going to be in the spotlight.

And it took just three minutes for Argote to be involved in a moment of controversy, with the Venezuelan keeping his cards in his pocket after a clash between Zambrano and Arturo Vidal, with the latter particularly lucky to escape sanction after he pushed his opponent in the face.

Midway through the first half and Argote sent off Zambrano for what appeared to be an accidental high boot on Charles Aranguiz, and although Peru defended stoutly and produced a number of chances on the counter-attack, Gareca's side will feel hard done by.

Having progressed from their first Copa America semi-final since 1999, Chile are now one game away from a maiden title at South America's continental championships.


It could have been a very different match at the Estadio Nacional had Argote chosen to send off Vidal early, with the Juventus midfielder tangling with Zambrano as the latter looked to shepherd the ball out in the fourth minute.

Just two minutes later and Zambrano received a yellow card for a foul on Alexis Sanchez, before Peru's Jefferson Farfan struck the post with a header, and in the 20th minute, Argote left an indelible mark on the match.

Zambrano cleared the ball high into the air and Aranguiz appeared to back into the central defender as he tried to block, with the Chile midfielder making the most of contact as his opponent's studs struck his back.

Gareca withdrew Christian Cueva for centre-back Christian Ramos as Peru sat back, with Luis Advincula pulling off an incredible block to deny Vargas just after the half-hour mark.

Paolo Guerrero was doing well as the lone man up front for Peru and almost teed up Farfan seven minutes before the break. But soon after, Vargas broke the deadlock, tapping in after Alexis Sanchez's cross came off the post, although there was suspicion of offside.

Just after half-time and Chile were harshly dealt with by the offside flag, after Vargas expertly volleyed David Pizarro's chip into the net.

Peru remained a threat on the break with Farfan heading at Claudio Bravo, before a rapid attack down the right on the hour-mark saw Advincula whip in a cross and Medel's outstretched boot poked the ball into his own net.

Vargas would save Chile, however, as Peru were sent into the third-place play-off for the second straight Copa.

Copa America 2015 – Quarter final – Paraguay beat Brazil 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.

Copa America 2015 – Quarter final – Paraguay beat Brazil 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.

·  Robinho puts Brazil ahead after Roberto Firmino dummy in 15th minute 
·       Brazil lead 1-0 at half time without convincing in Concepcion
·       Derlis Gonzalez equalizes from spot after Thiago Silva handball 

·       Paraguay beat Brazil 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw on Saturday to advance to the semi-finals of the Copa America.
·       Midfielder Everton Ribeiro and striker Douglas Costa each missed penalties for Brazil.
·       Derlis Gonzalez converted the winning spot-kick for Paraguay, setting up a match against Argentina on Tuesday.
·        It was the second consecutive time that Paraguay eliminated Brazil on penalties in the quarter-finals of the South American tournament.

Brazil vs Paraguay 1-1 (3-4) All Goals and Full Highlights Copa America 2015 by Enteritaniment TV

Brazil led through Robinho's first half strike, but Derlis Gonzalez leveled to take the game to penalties

Robinho put Brazil ahead after 15 minutes, but Derlis Gonzalez's penalty midway through the second half ensured normal time finished 1-1 and took the game to penalties.

Everton Ribeiro and Douglas Costa both missed from the spot as the Selecao suffered a repeat of their shoot-out loss to the same nation at the same stage four years ago.

Both sides deployed 4-2-2-2 formations from the outset, but Brazil settled into their rhythm the quickest. It took less than two minutes for Dunga's men to register a shot on target as Coutinho's effort from range forced goalkeeper Villar to tip the ball over his crossbar.

Edgar Benitez was proving to be a thorn in Brazil's side down Paraguay's left flank early on, but it was the Brazilians who took the lead in the 15th minute.

In the middle of the park, Elias - who had received the ball from Robinho - played a pass wide right for Dani Alves, whose probing cross eventually fell back to an unmarked Robinho, who had a straightforward tap-in.

Coutinho was giving Paraguay all sorts of problems on the left wing but he almost produced a magical moment just prior to the half-hour mark on the right byline.

With Bruno Valdez trying to shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick, Coutinho somehow kept it in and played a ball back across goal - only for the linesman to adjudge the ball had crossed the line.

Paraguay had their moments leading up to half-time, with Roque Santa Cruz trying his luck from range and a Benitez corner causing the Brazil defence problems.

Benitez continued to push Brazil on the left side, with Dani Alves yellow-carded for a foul on him five minutes after the interval.

Paraguay's push to get back into the match saw Paulo da Silva power a header at Brazil goalkeeper Jefferson, who parried it clear in the 62nd minute - but Diaz's men were level with 18 minutes to play via Gonzalez.

Both goalkeepers were called upon in the final stages - Gonzalez firing an acute-angle strike at Jefferson, before Coutinho's dipping shot made Villar work.

But neither could create a decisive second goal, as a shootout ensued - and Brazil suffered penalty heartbreak again, meaning Paraguay face Argentina in the semi-finals.

Brazil 3 - 4 Paraguay Penalties 27.06.2015 HD (Copa America 2015) by EuroFootballHD

Copa America 2015 – Quarter final – Argentina beat Colombia(5-4) on penalties

Carlos Tevez netted the winning penalty to seal his side's place in the Copa America semi-finals after an astonishing shoot-out

·       Argentina beat Colombia (5-4) on penalties in Copa America quarter final

·       David Ospina pulls off stunning saves to deny Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero in goalless first half

·       Ospina makes another superb save in second half to keep it at 0-0

·       

·       It took 95 minutes, 16 shots and 14 penalty kicks, but Argentina finally saw off the robust challenge of Colombia to reach the last four of the Copa America.

·       The pre-tournament favorites dominated this quarter-final from start to finish but had to rely on the boot of Carlos Tevez to win a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Vina del Mar.

·       Lucas Biglia and Marcos Rojo both had chances to win the match from 12 yards but it was left to substitute Tevez, who was celebrating a return to Boca Juniors, who kept La Albiceleste on course for their fist piece of silverware since 1993.

Argentina vs Colombia 5-4 Full Penalties - Copa America 2015 HD by Football2yu

New Boca Juniors signing Carlos Tevez struck the winning spot-kick 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 and Marcos Rojo had both missed opportunities to claim victory from the 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 foot before scrambling to palm Lionel Messi's follow-up header around the 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 Ibarbo, Alexander Mejia and Camilo Zuniga were also included as Pekerman 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 first 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 his box early in the second half.

James Rodriguez wasted an opportunity to shoot in the 67th minute, 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.

Copa America 2015 – Quarter final- Bolivia 1-3 Peru

Guerrero hat-trick sets up Chile showdown

·        A Paolo Guerrero hat-trick led Peru to a 3-1 win against Bolivia on Thursday, securing a place in the semi-finals of the Copa America.

·        Peru attacked from the offset with Guerrero opening the scoring in the 20th minute when he headed in a perfectly placed cross from Juan Manuel Vargas, and he added his second three minutes later on the counter-attack with Christian Cueva supplying the pass. 

·        His third came in the 74th after intercepting a pass, while Bolivia's Marcelo Moreno converted a penalty with six minutes remaining.

·        Peru will play Chile in the next round. 

Bolivia 1-3 Peru, All Goals and Full Highlights, Copa America Chile 2015, 1/4 de Final, 25/06/2015

Paolo Guerrero silenced his critics with a hat-trick as Peru overcame Bolivia 3-1 to set up a Copa America semi-final clash against hosts Chile.

Peru coach Ricardo Gareca was forced to defend Guerrero's goalscoring record pre-match, with the striker goalless in all three group games in Chile, leaving him with just two international goals since 2012.

Guerrero, however, proved his worth with his second Copa America hat-trick as Peru earned back-to-back semi-final appearances, having reached the final four in Argentina in 2011, and a showdown with Jorge Sampaoli's impressive side.

Marcelo Martins Moreno pulled one back from the penalty spot late on but the result was already beyond doubt thanks to Guerrero's heroics.

The Flamengo striker, who claimed a three-goal haul against Venezuela four years ago, scored two in three first-half minutes to put the game beyond Mauricio Soria's men after just 23 minutes.

He completed his hat-trick and a memorable performance with 16 minutes remaining as he moved second on Peru's all-time goalscoring charts with 24, alongside Teodoro Fernandez.

Bolivia - appearing in their first quarter-final since 1997 - made a host of changes to the team that lost 5-0 to Chile last week, with Edemir Rodriguez, Pablo Escobar, Ricardo Pedriel and Walter Veizaga dropping out for Edward Zenteno, Miguel Hurtado, Danny Bejarano and Alcides Pena.

Star forward Jefferson Farfan returned for Peru, while Victor Yotun and Edwin Retamoso were named in the starting XI at the expense of Josepmir Ballon and suspended captain Carlos Lobaton following last week's goalless draw with Colombia.

Bolivia came into the match as the lowest ranked nation remaining in the quarter-finals and they lived up to that tag as Peru gained a stranglehold on proceedings inside the opening 23 minutes.

Guerrero was the chief destroyer with a quick-fire brace, the first of his goals coming in the 20th minute after rising highest to head Juan Vargas' cross past goalkeeper Romel Quinonez, albeit with some help from a deflection off Cristian Coimbra.

It got better three minutes later as Peru caught Bolivia on the counter, with Christian Cueva playing through Guerrero, who tucked the ball underneath Quinonez, who had lost his footing.

Bolivia slowly worked their way back into the contest and they almost pulled a goal back via Leonel Morales and his thunderous long-range strike, while Martins Moreno forced Pedro Gallese into a fine save.

Farfa then struck the outside of the post minutes and crashed a free-kick off rattle the crossbar as he looked to add a third before half-time.

Farfan was in the thick of the action in the second half, though a goal continued to elude the forward despite two good opportunities.

At the other end, appeals for a 69th-minute penalty were waved away by referee Wilmar Roldan, who was soon surrounded by furious Bolivia players. Ricardo Pedriel appeared to be taken down by Gallese en route to goal.
Bolivia's woes were compounded five minutes later when Guerrero capitalised on Bejarano's terrible pass across the defence as he drove through on goal unchallenged for his hat-trick.

The Bolivians salvaged some pride late in the match when Martins Moreno converted from the penalty spot after Damian Lizio had been felled by Luis Advincula.
Substitute Yordy Reyna went close to making it 4-1 late on but could not connect with a low cross, and the match ended amid scuffles between both sets of players, although nothing as serious as Wednesday's clash between Chile and Uruguay.

Copa America 2015 –Quarter final- Chile 1-0 Uruguay

Copa America 2015 –Quarter final- Chile 1-0 Uruguay

• Mauricio Isla scores winner with nine minutes to go to put Chile ahead 
• Edinson Cavani sent off before the goal, Uruguay down to nine men soon after when Jorge Fucile is given second yellow 
• Chile dominate throughout, but struggled to find a way through
• Uruguay, led by Diego Godin, defended well before red cards 
• Chile reach the semi-finals to face Peru or Bolivia 

Chile vs Uruguay, 1-0, All Goals and Full Highlights, Copa America, 1/4 de Final, 24/06/2015 by Ptyfansport

     Chile are through to the semi-finals of the Copa America after Mauricio Isla's 81st minute strike was enough to see off nine-man Uruguay at the Estadio Nacional.

The full-back drove his shot low into the corner to settle an ill-tempered encounter which saw both Edinson Cavani and Jorge Fucile dismissed in the second half.

Cavani received his marching orders for slapping Gonzalo Jara in the face, capping a turbulent week for the Paris Saint-Germain star after his father was allegedly involved in a car crash that led to a fatality in Uruguay on Monday.

Uruguay's centre-back pairing of Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez were an immovable force up until the 80th minute, when Isla controlled the ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired Chile - bidding to win Copa America for the first time - into the final four of South America's premier tournament.

The match was blighted by a late red card to Uruguay defender Jorge Fucile, who sparked an all-in melee and a delay in play, while coach Oscar Tabarez was sent to the stands as the 2011 champions lost their heads.

Chile, who will face the winner of Bolivia and Peru on Monday, made one change to the team that routed Bolivia 5-0 in their final group fixture last week, with Eugenio Mena replacing Jean Beausejour.

Godin returned to Uruguay's starting line-up at the expense of Sebastian Coates after missing the 1-1 draw with Paraguay, while Fucile and Cristian Rodriguez came in for Alvaro Pereira and Abel Hernandez, respectively.

The opening 45 minutes in the Chilean capital - brutal at times with numerous challenges - was a half of few chances, Uruguay happy to sit back and stifle Chile with players behind the ball.

It proved effective as Chile, who dominated proceedings, struggled to create anything clear-cut, with the hosts forced into strikes from distance.

Charles Aranguiz came close to breaking the deadlock in the 26th minute, though his shot was straight down the throat of Fernando Muslera, while the Uruguay goalkeeper also dealt with Arturo Vidal's stinging long-range effort 11 minutes later.

The second half followed a similar path, with Chile dictating play without reward.

However, Uruguay had an opportunity to take an unlikely lead from a set piece after the ball fell to the feet of forward Diego Rolan, who reacted quickest but was unable to generate enough power in his volley to trouble Claudio Bravo.

Cavani left Uruguay with a mountain to climb, when he was shown a second yellow card in the 63rd minute.

Despite being down to 10 men, Uruguay engineered two good openings, while a Chile corner flashed across the six-yard box and eluded everyone.

Chile, however, finally made the most of their numerical advantage via Isla, who fired the ball into the bottom corner of the net with nine minutes left on the clock.

Uruguay's woes were compounded in the penultimate minute of regulation time, when Fucile saw red for a second bookable offence in a disappointing end for Tabarez's men.

Copa America 2015 –STATISTICTS

Goal scorers

Player	Team	Goals
Arturo Vidal	Chile	3
Sergio Aguero	Argentina	2
Charles Aranguiz	Chile	2
Eduardo Vargas	Chile	2
Lucas Barrios	Paraguay	2
Enner Valencia	Ecuador	2
Miller Bolanos	Ecuador	2
Raul Jimenez	Mexico	2
Matías Vuoso	Mexico	2
Gonzalo Higuaín	Argentina	1
Lionel Messi	Argentina	1
Marcelo Martins Moreno	Bolivia	1
Martin Smedberg-Dalence	Bolivia	1
Miku	Venezuela	1
Douglas Costa	Brazil	1
Neymar	Brazil	1
Roberto Firmino	Brazil	1
Thiago Silva	Brazil	1
Gary Medel	Chile	1
Alexis Sanchez	Chile	1
Jeison Murillo	Colombia	1
Edgar Benítez	Paraguay	1
Nelson Haedo Valdez	Paraguay	1
Christian Cueva	Peru	1
Claudio Pizarro	Peru	1
Jose Gimenez	Uruguay	1
Cristian Rodriguez	Uruguay	1
Salomón Rondón	Venezuela	1
Ronald Raldes	Mexico	1

                                

oWN GOALs

 Ronald Raldes (playing against Chile)

AsSISTS

PLAYER	TEAM	ASSISTS
Jorge Valdivia	Chile	2
Adrián Aldrete	Mexico	2
Robinho	Brazil	1
Dani Alves	Brazil	1
Willian	Brazil	1
Neymar	Brazil	1
Arturo Vidal	Chile	1
Alexis Sánchez	Chile	1
Angelo Henriquez	Chile	1
Charles Aránguiz	Chile	1
Eduardo Vargas	Chile	1
Pablo Zabaleta	Argentina	1
Ángel Di María	Argentina	1
José Giménez	Uruguay	1
Carlos Sánchez	Uruguay	1
Edgar Benítez	Paraguay	1
Néstor Ortigoza	Paraguay	1
Paulo Da Silva	Paraguay	1
Martin Smedberg-Dalence	Bolivia	1
Marcelo Moreno	Bolivia	1
Alejandro Guerra	Venezuela	1
Jefferson Montero	Ecuador	1
Miller Bolaños	Ecuador	1
Christian Noboa	Ecuador	1
Juan Carlos Medina	Mexico	1