Uruguay 0-0 (4-5 on pens) Peru
Peru have made it to the Copa America semi-finals tonight with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Uruguay, but it was tough on La Celeste after they dominated the game.
It was the third penalty shootout in four quarter-finals in this year’s tournament. With no extra-time, the high drama of the sudden-death decider comes more quickly. It’s not good for the nerves but you can’t deny the excitement!
With Brazil and Argentina thrown together in the first semi-final, this was the contest to decide who would be meeting Chile, who scraped through, last night, in a penalty shootout victory over an in-form Colombia side.
The prize was big, and Peru held their nerve to grab it with both hands.
Highlights of the game
Both sides struggled to get going in the first half, and that probably suited Peru more than Uruguay as they played a high line and an efficient offside trap which frustrated La Celeste.
The first attempt on goal came on 15 minutes when Luis Suarez met a Federico Valverde cross, but he directed his header just over the bar.
With Uruguay continuing to press, Giovanni Gonzalez threaded a ball through to Nahitan Nandez, but his shot was blocked. And when Rodrigo Bentancur played Suarez in, the Peru offside trap did its job.
Giorgian de Arrascaeta was having some luck down the left flank and put Edinson Cavani in, but his shot was comfortably saved by Pedro Gallese. Moments later, Arrascaeta crossed for Suarez and this time the Barca man came very close, but his shot whistled inches wide of the right post.
Peru had been happy to sit back, but having comfortably absorbed the pressure for most of the first half they came out on the attack in the closing minutes.
Renato Tapia passed to Edison Flores, but his shot from distance flew wide. Then, Andre Carrillo met a Christian Cueva corner, but he directed his header past Fernando Muslera’s right-hand post.
La Celeste came out for the second half in a positive mood. Federico Valverde tested Gallese and the Peru stopper made a fine save in the top left corner.
Uruguay rang in the changes on the hour, bringing on Lucas Torreira to replace Nandez, and he immediately set his sights with a long-range effort just off target.
Uruguay ramped up the Pressure and when Valverde fed Cavani just outside the area, he unleashed a shot which was too close to Gallese who saved comfortably.
Arrascaeta sent over a corner which defender Martin Cacares headed wide. He then had a shot himself which narrowly missed the target. La Celeste kept pushing for a goal, but Peru’s high line continued to do its job as Suarez strayed offside again.
Peru made a rare foray forward and Christian Cueva fed Christofer Gonzales, but his shot flew harmlessly wide.
La Celeste threw everything at it in search of a goal in the closing minutes and Bentancur and Valverde both had shots blocked in injury time, but for the third time in four quarter-finals, a penalty shootout loomed.
Having spent half the night being caught offside Suarez stepped up to take the first penalty, but Gallese made a superb save low in the corner to give Peru an immediate advantage.
And then nobody else missed!
Key statistics
La Celeste were highly fancied to win this game with pre-match Uruguay vs Peru betting odds of 1.67 but they were frustrated all night.
It was a tight first half with very little goalmouth action. Uruguay had four shots to Peru’s two and the only one on target in a half in which the possession was shared, but the action never flowed with 16 fouls slowing things down.
Uruguay went all-out for the win in the second half and ended up with 12 shots and three on target while Peru didn’t test la Celeste’s keeper at all. Until penalties that was!
What’s next?
The SBOBET Copa America is building up to an exciting climax with the big South American rivalry of Brazil and Argentina playing out in one semi-final, while Peru will now face Chile after the reigning champions survived their penalty shootout against Colombia.
Uruguay won Group C after an impressive win against Chile in their final group game and they would have been highly fancied to make the final, but poor Luis Suarez has presented that chance to Peru.
Look out for all the Copa America 2019 updates throughout the week and make sure you catch the semi-final action as it happens right here at SBOBET.
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