Forlan at the double as Uruguay are South American Champions

COPA AMERICA 2011 FINAL
Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina

URUGUAY 3 : 0 PARAGUAY
Suarez 12', Forlan 42', 89'

Uruguay won the Copa America by a canter this afternoon to confirm themselves as undisputed champions of South America, a record 15th victory for Las Charruas.

A skillful early strike from Luis Suarez set them on the road to victory and a brace from another sharp marksman Diego Forlan made it sure.

From early on it was clear that the World Cup semi-finalists were the better team. Paraguay, who curiously had reached the final without winning a game, found themselves on the back foot in the 12th minute.

Suarez's quick feet allowed him to nip inside his marker and rifle a shot into the far corner to give Las Charruas the lead. Uruguay doubled their lead four minutes before the break when Forlan finished off a zig-zagging move after stealing the ball in Paraguay's last third.

Two down at the interval, Paraguay had to come out and play and managed to hit the crossbar through Nelson Valdez in the 54th minute, but they could not make inroads. Then the arrival of substitute Edinson Cavani in the Uruguayan attack just after the hour reminded us which team had more talent to call upon.

Paraguay pushed upfield and had plenty of play in Uruguay's last third, but had a wall of sky-blue shirts in front of them. Pablo Zeballos had a decent penalty appeal waved away in the 70th minute, which might have let his team back into the game.

But as the minutes ticked away and Paraguay maintained their siege without penetration, the risk of counter-attacks grew bigger. One such raid a minute from time saw Forlan, that exquisite finisher, find the net again to complete a comprehensive victory.

In winning the Copa America for the first time since 1995, Uruguay also qualify for the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Peru won third place, defeating Venezuela 4-1. Peru's Pablo Guerrero finished top scorer of the tournament with five goals, one more than Suarez.

URU - Muslera, M. Pereira, Lugano, Coates, J. Caceres (Godin 88'), Gonzalez, D.Perez (Eguren 69'), Rios, A. Pereira (Cavani 63'), Forlan, Suarez
PAR - Villar, Piris, Da Silva, Veron, Marecos, Vera (Estigarribia 64'), Ortigoza, V. Caceres (H.Perez 64'), Riveros, Valdez, Zeballos (Barrios 76')

(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile

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Copa America final

URUGUAY v PARAGUAY
Sunday 1600h Buenos Aires, Argentina

Uruguay and Paraguay are getting ready to fight it out for the Copa America on Sunday in Buenos Aires.

It has been a cup of shocks, with Argentina, Brazil and Colombia surprisingly falling by the wayside, but in the end two consistent sides who qualified for the 2010 World Cup have reached the final.

Two rapier strikes from Luis Suarez ended the Peruvian adventure,



while Paraguay needed spot-kicks to kill off the Vinotintos of Venezuela



Interestingly, Paraguay have yet to win a game in normal time but are in the final. They last won the Copa in 1979, Uruguay in 1995. Another win for the Uruguayans would make them the most successful nation in the competition's history, leapfrogging Argentina's 14 trophies.

In their five respective games so far, Paraguay have outpassed Uruguay 1447 to 1060, but the Uruguayans have narrowly outscored them six to five and had 25 shots on target to Paraguay's 22.

(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile

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Crazy Copa goes on as Brazil go out

BRAZIL 0:0 PARAGUAY aet; Paraguay won 2-0 on penalties
CHILE 1:2 VENEZUELA Vizcarrondo 34' (0-1), Suazo 69' (1-1), Cichero 80' (1-2)

After Colombia and hosts Argentina exited on Saturday, Sunday's 2011 Copa America claimed the biggest scalp of all - Brazil. Much fancied Chile also lost, 2-1 to Venezuela, emerging like Peru as the surprise package of the tournament.

The seleçao lost 2-0 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in La Plata. Both sides had a player sent off, Lucas for Brazil, Antolin Alcaraz for Paraguay. But Brazil were undoubtedly on top for the 120 minutes, while Paraguay failed to register a single shot on target. Ganso, Neymar and Alexandre Pato spurned fine chances to score. Brazil amazingly then lost all rhythm in the spot-kicks, missing four through Elano, Thiago Silva, Andre Santos and Fred.



Venezuela reached the last four of the Copa for the first time with strikes from Oswaldo Vizcarrondo and Gabriel Cichero. The Vinotintos are on a roll after their two late goals in their final group game against Paraguay, whom they meet again on Wednesday, this time for a place in the final.



Semi-Finals

Tues: PERU v URUGUAY 21:45 La Plata
Weds: PARAGUAY v VENEZUELA 21:45 Mendoza

(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile

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Argentina and Colombia crash out the Copa

COPA AMERICA 2011

COLOMBIA 0-2 PERU aet
ARGENTINA 1-1 URUGUAY aet; 1-1 at 90mins; Uruguay won 5-4 on penalties.

Peru and Uruguay are the surprise semi-finalists after Colombia and host nation Argentina fell by the wayside yesterday.

The Peruvians needed two extra-time goals in Cordoba to overcome Colombia, who hit the woodwork twice adn missed a second-half penalty through Falcao.

Peru's Carlos Lobaton rifled in one of the goals of the tournament after Colombia goalkeeper Luis Martinez palmed a cross into his path. With the coffee-growers piling forward in search of a leveller, Juan Vargas killed the game in the 111th minute on the counter.

Peru, bottom of CONMEBOL qualifiers for the last World Cup, are now in the last four of the Copa America for the first time since 1983. Their enigmatic coach Sergio Makarian, who is fond of biblical references, did not disappoint again:

"Glory to God for this victory!" he said, adding with no sense of irony, "Today we have taken a big step, not only in the Copa America, but for the world!"



The big clash in Santa Fe did not disappoint, with thrills and spills aplenty and the eventual elimination of the host nation.

Uruguay took the lead in the sixth minute through Diego Perez but Argentina equalised ten minutes later when Gonzalo Higuain nodded Lionel Messi's curling ball beyond Uruguayan custodian Fernando Muslera. Perez turned from hero to villain with a red card before half-time, a punishment matched by Javier Mascherano for a tackle on Luis Suarez near the end of the 90 minutes.

Argentina missed a string of chances in extra-time before losing on penalties when Carlos Tevez's kick was saved.



Peru and Uruguay square up in the semi-final on Tuesday.

Today: Brazil v Paraguay, Chile v Venezuela

(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile

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Copa America Quarter-Finals

Sat 16th July
A) Colombia v Peru 16:00
B) Argentina v Uruguay 19:15

Sun 17th July
C) Brazil v Paraguay 16:00
D) Chile v Venezuela 19:15

Semi-finals: 19th July A v B, 20th July C v D;
Final: 24th July

It's still all set for a traditional Brazil v Argentina final on the 24th of July but Argentina's ropey form in their first two games means the hosts' passage to Buenos Aires is less than certain.

In their path stand Uruguay, World Cup semi-finalists last summer, and fast-improving Colombia, who had the better of the Albiceleste in their 0-0 draw in Santa Fe.

That said, Argentina improved massively come their crucial last game, sweeping aside Costa Rica 3-0 with ease, although it must be said the Central American guests were not pressing as eagerly as you would have expected from a competitor.

Brazil, who also began with two draws, found their shooting boots on Wednesday with a 4-2 win over Ecuador, Alexandre Pato and Neymar bagging braces.



Facing the seleçao on Sunday are Paraguay, who qualified in third-place from Group B despite conceding two goals in the final three minutes to Venezuela.

Although they have had fewer attempts on target than any of the 11 other teams in Argentina, the Venezuelans could be the dark horse of the Copa. Having drawn 0-0 with Brazil in their opening game, they could get a second crack at them in the semi-final if they can overcome Group C winners Chile in their quarter-final. Easier said than done perhaps, as the Chileans have made almost twice as many successful passes as Venezuela this tournament. Only the big two have passed more.

Uruguay have been quiet so far with draws against Chile and Peru and a 1-0 win over Mexico's B-team, and while their forward line of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez is still one to fear and the historical weight of a clash with Argentina should lift them, the hosts should have woken up by the time of their meeting in Santa Fe.



Top Scorers: Brazil 6, Paraguay 5, Argentina, Chile & Venezuela 4, Colombia & Uruguay 3
Golden Boot: Aguero (ARG) 3, Neymar (BRA), Pato (BRA), Guerrero (PER) & Caicedo (ECU) 2

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Argentina through at a canter

COPA AMERICA 2011: Argentina 3:0 Costa Rica

They had to win to survive, but in the end Argentina qualified comfortably for the last eight of the Copa America with a 3:0 thrashing of Costa Rica in Cordoba.

Fears of a humiliating elimination proved unfounded; The Albiceleste never broke a sweat and at with a static Costa Rican defence and a game which was played at almost walking pace at times, the meeting between the hosts and the guests had the whiff of a friendly.

A slow first half warmed up in the closing minutes as Argentina began to cut through the red shirts with ease and pepper the goal from all angles. The breakthrough came when Sergio Aguero, whom coach Sergio Batista admitted after the draw with Colombia he should not have omitted, found the net in first-half injury time chasing up a parried shot.

Psychologically the timing was perfect and after the break the blue and white shirts were in control. Aguero, preferred to Carlos Tevez, steered the ball home from a Lionel Messi through-ball seven minutes after the break to ally any remaining nerves and when Angel Di Maria fired in a third just after the hour it was all over.

Costa Rica's lack of pressing in the middle allowed Messi unusual time and space to pull the strings and remind the many critics of his previous two performances of his magic feet.

So courtesy of a supine guest and the hosts are through and Argentina can breathe again. But sterner tests await.

The Albiceleste play the second team from Group C (Chile, Peru or Uruguay) in their quarter-final in Santa Fe on Saturday night.



Group A Final Points Tally

Colombia 7, Argentina 5, Costa Rica 3, Bolivia 1.

Today: Chile v Peru, Uruguay v Mexico

(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile

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Bolivia back out as Colombia march on in Copa...US Women beat Brazil in World Cup thriller

Bolivia became the first nation to be eliminated from the 2011 Copa America, going down 0-2 to Colombia in Santa Fe.

It was Chelsea target Falcao who scored both goals for Los Cafeteros, the first having sprung the Bolivian offside trap high up the field in the 14th minute, and the second a penalty just short of the half hour.

Colombia's victory means they become the first confirmed quarter-finalist in the Copa, and have five days rest until their next game in Cordoba on Saturday.

Argentina's second city is also the venue for tomorrow's make-or-break game for the hosts against Costa Rica. Nothing less than a win will do if the Albiceleste want to avoid an embarrassing first-round elimination.



In the Women's World Cup in Germany, the USA beat Brazil, Marta and all, 5-3 on penalties after a fluctuating 2-2 draw. Daiane's slice past her own goalkeeper Andreia in the second minute had given the Americans the lead, before a Marta penalty in the 68th tied things up. Marta pulled off another wonder goal two minutes into extra-time and her swivelled lob looked to have sent the Brazilians through to the final.

But, mirabile dictu, with the clock on 121 minutes, Andreia flailed at a last-ditch Megan Rapinoe cross and Abby Wambach was waiting to head in an equaliser to send the tie to penalties. Brazil then missed two of their spot-kicks and the US had completed a remarkable turnaround.



Sweden made light work of Australia, winning 3-1 in Augsburg. The Scandinavians advance to meet Japan, conquerors of Germany, in Frankfurt on Wednesday. The US, who play France the same day in Moenchengladbach, must be confident with so many big rivals out of the picture, of adding the World Cup to their Olympic crown next Sunday.

SEMI-FINALS: Japan v Sweden, USA v France

(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile

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Seleçao share points with Paraguay

Copa America 2011, Cordoba

Brazil 2:2 Paraguay
1-0 Jadson 38', 1-1 Santa Cruz 54', 1-2 Valdez 66', 2-2 Fred 89'.

Group B could be becoming the group of death in this year's Copa America after a third consecutive draw.

Jadson, the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder, gave Brazil a first-half lead with a long-range effort but a shock was soon on the cards after the break as Roque Santa Cruz equalised for Paraguay and then Nelson Haedo Valdez gave La Albirroja the lead in the 66th minute. Substitute Fred spared Brazilian blushes with an equaliser a minute from time.

Ahead of tonight's Ecuador v Venezuela clash, Brazil and Paraguay head the group with two points apiece.

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Dani Alves, Lucio, Andre Santos, Thiago Silva, Lucas Leiva, Ramires (Lucas Silva 70'), Paulo Ganso, Jadson (Elano 45'), Pato, Neymar (Fred 81')
Paraguay: Villar, Da Silva, Veron, Alcaraz, Torres, Riveros (Caceres 67'), Vera, Estigarribia (Martinez 78'), Ortigoza, Barrios (Valdez 56'), Santa Cruz



Other results: Chile 1:1 Uruguay, Peru 1:0 Mexico
Sun: Bolivia v Colombia
Tue: Argentina v Costa Rica
Weds: Brazil v Ecuador, Paraguay v Venezuela

Group A points after two games:
Colombia 4, Costa Rica 3, Argentina 2, Bolivia 1
Group C points after two games: Chile 4, Peru 4, Uruguay 2, Mexico 0

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Argentina depressed by second Copa draw

Copa America 2011

Argentina 0:0 Colombia

The host nation has embarked on a round of navel-gazing following a second successive draw in the Copa America.

On a foggy night in Santa Fe, Argentina, despite boasting the likes of Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez in their lineup, failed to catch fire and stumbled listlessly to a goalless finish with Colombia.

If anything, Los Cafeteros (the coffee growers) should have stolen the three points and enjoyed the better chances, particularly an open-goal miss by Dayro Moreno in the first half.

A limp back-pass by Barcelona's Gabriel Milito had allowed Adrian Ramos a clear run on goal and the Hertha Berlin striker tapped the ball wide of Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero before being scythed down by Nicolas Burdisso for a stonewall penalty.

But the referee played advantage as Moreno was racing in from the left with only a vacant net to hit. Luckily for the hosts the Tijuana striker fired into the side-netting instead.

Ramos had already spurned a chance to give Colombia the lead, Pablo Armero whistled a diagonal effort inches wide and Chelsea target Falcao troubled Romero with a couple of long-range shots.

Messi at one point looked to have injured himself with nobody near him, putting too much pressure on his right leg. The World Player of the Year dazzled at times but his and Tevez's dribbling cameos occurred in isolation as the Albiceleste (White & Sky Blue) put in a disjointed performance devoid of real attacking team-play.

Argentina might have grabbed a goal in the first half when Napoli marksman Ezequiel Lavezzi was one-on-one with Neco Martinez, but the Colombian goalkeeper stretched out a leg to prevent the strike. After the break subsititute striker Gonzalo Higuain cut in dangerously from the left and drew a low save from Martinez at his near post but was the extent of the hosts' threat in front of goal.

"The worst moment of the Batista era" cried 'La Nacion' newspaper in Argentina, piling the pressure onto the beleaguered coach Sergio Batista.

"Batista guides the Titanic towards the iceberg," decided Spain's AS, and "Come back Diego" was the cheeky headline in Brazil's Globodesporte.

Batista in his defence, wondered if his diminutive ball wizards were not the problem rather than the solution: "Maybe we lack a No.9 in the box", he noted.

Argentina's last group game is on Monday against Costa Rica in Cordoba, where only victory will do to ensure passage to the quarter-finals.

ARG - Romero, Zabaleta, Burdisso, Milito, Zanetti, Banega (Higuain 71'), Mascherano, Cambiasso (Gago 64'), Lavezzi (Aguero 64') Messi, Tevez
COL- Martinez, Armero, Perea, Yepes, Zunida, Aguilar, Guarin, Dayro Moreno (Mosquera 91'), Ramos (Soto 89'), Carlos Moreno, Falcao (Gutierrez 87')

Group A
Colombia Pld 2 pts 4
Argentina Pld 2 Pts 2
Bolivia Pld 1 Pts 1
Costa Rica Pld 1 Pts 0

Today: Bolivia v Costa Rica




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