Copa America: Colombia head to semi-final after penalties win over Uruguay

Two penalty shootout saves by goalkeeper David Ospina put Colombia within the semifinals of Copa America on Saturday after a 0-0 draw with Uruguay in common time and saved alive its hopes of a primary Copa title since 2001.

The 4-2 shootout win on the Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia additionally broke Colombia’s dangerous luck in current penalty shootouts and positioned 32-year-old Ospina because the staff’s participant with most worldwide caps, with 112, overtaking retired captain Carlos Valderrama.Ospina made saves from Uruguay’s Jose Maria Gimenez and Matias Viña which arrange a semifinal matchup in opposition to both Argentina or Ecuador, who will play later.Duván Zapata, Davinson Sanchez, Yerry Mina and Miguel Borja all scored within the shootout, with veteran strikers Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez changing their spot kicks.Saturday’s victory ended a protracted trauma for in penalty shootouts for Colombia after painful exits within the 2015 and 2019 Copa America editions in opposition to Argentina and Chile, respectively. Colombia was additionally knocked out on penalties within the round-of-sixteen conflict in opposition to England within the 2018 World Cup.“We want to give joy to our country, may it have peace,” Ospina mentioned after the match.Uruguay’s Cavani mentioned his staff had improved regardless of the elimination.“We have a good feeling here, but it was for us to go out,” he mentioned. “That’s how penalties work, it could actually go properly, it could actually go badly. Uruguay had a number of moments of excellent soccer through which we dominated. But within the shootout issues can occur like they did.”Colombia put extra stress on Uruguay from the beginning regardless of the absences of suspended winger Juan Guillermo Cuadrado and injured midfielder Matheus Uribe.Uruguay’s Muslera made the save of the match within the 71st minute in a header by Zapata. Veteran strikers Suárez and Cavani didn’t get any clear alternatives as Uruguay’s sluggish construct up play by means of midfield appeared to swimsuit Colombia’s protection.Colombia has reached the semifinal with just one win in 5 matches; a 1-0 victory in opposition to Ecuador within the first spherical of the group stage. The draw with Uruguay was the staff’s second within the match. It has additionally misplaced two video games.Colombia was one of many unique hosts of Copa America with Argentina, however left the group amid avenue protests in opposition to President Ivan Duque.Defending champions Brazil and Peru will play for the opposite place on the July 10 last on the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.