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Argentina 1-1 Uruguay

Uruguay dumped Argentina out of the Copa America in Santa Fe on Saturday night, with Carlos Tevez’s penalty miss proving crucial in the quarter-final shootout.

Gonzalo Higuain’s equaliser had got Sergio Batista’s side level in the 17th minute, cancelling out Diego Perez’s early opener, and things looked to have turned in the hosts’ favour when Perez was sent off six minutes before the break.

But Javier Mascherano’s red card three minutes from time evened up the numbers and, when there were no further goals after extra time, Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera took centre stage. He made the only save of the shootout from Tevez’s spot-kick.

The Charruas will face Peru, who earlier beat Colombia 2-0 after extra time, in the first semi-final on Tuesday.

Oscar Tabarez’s side stunned the home crowd by taking a fifth-minute lead at the Estadio Brigadier Estanislao Lopez.

Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero made a good diving save to keep out Martin Caceres’ header from Diego Forlan’s free-kick, but Perez pounced to squeeze home the opening goal.

Their lead lasted only 12 minutes, though, before Real Madrid forward striker Higuain glanced home a fine cross from Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Uruguay suffered a further blow before the interval when midfielder Perez was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence following a foul on Fernando Gago.

Despite their numerical advantage, Argentina looked shaky at the back and the lively Luis Suarez threatened to put Uruguay ahead again but to no avail, while Messi, Higuain and Sergio Aguero were also unsuccessful in their quest to find a way past Muslera.

Mascherano saw red for a second bookable offence after fouling Suarez towards the end of normal time, leaving it 10 men apiece for the additional 30 minutes.

Javier Pastore and Tevez were introduced in place of Angel Di Maria and Aguero and caused a few problems for Muslera and the Uruguay defence, but neither could grab the crucial goal.

Higuain passed up a glorious chance to win it for Argentina but smashed against the post with only Muslera to beat.

And man-of-the-match Muslera was to prove the key figure in the shootout, keeping out Tevez’s third spot-kick for Argentina.

Messi, Nicolas Burdisso, Pastore and Higuain were all successful for Argentina while Forlan, Suarez, Andres Scotti, Walter Gargano and Caceres kept their cool for Uruguay.

Muslera was thrilled to have helped his side advance to the last four.

“We are very, very happy to make such a big step in the tournament,” said the 25-year-old Lazio goalkeeper.

“I hope I have just played one of the best matches in my short career. I’m very happy for all the people in Uruguay. This team deserves this win.

“We were better than Argentina, even playing with 10 men. Then, penalties are just a matter of luck.”

Defender Diego Lugano added: “We fought more than we played.

“There is a long way to go yet. We have not achieved anything, but we defeated the most difficult rival.”

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In the biggest upset of the 2011 Copa America thus far, Uruguay have defeated tournament hosts Argentina on penalties in their quarter-final in Santa Fe.

The match itself ended 1-1 as Argentina dominated large portions of the contest, but Uruguay showed their steel to win the shootout 5-4 and eliminate the favourites. Carlos Tevez, the figure at the centre of much transfer debate, had his spot-kick saved by Fernando Muslera while Uruguay converted all of their penalties in clinical fashion.

Uruguay got off to the ideal start against their South American rivals when Diego Perez prodded home from close range inside the first five minutes. Diego Forlan’s free-kick was nodded down inside the area by Alvaro Pereira allowing Perez to move unmarked at the far post to slide in the opening goal.

However, the Uruguayans’ advantage would not last long as Argentina hit back through striker Gonzalo Higuain. After a counter-attack from Uruguay broke down in the 17th-minute, Argentine playmaker Lionel Messi cut inside from the right flank and sent an inch-perfect delivery for Higuain to head home.

The hosts then gained the upper hand on 38 minutes when Perez was shown his second yellow card and sent from the pitch. Messi, Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero looked to make the most of the extra space after the half-time interval, but for all of their endeavour they were unable to make their dominance count on the scoreboard.

Four minutes from full-time and both sides were down to ten-men, after Javier Mascherano was also shown his second yellow of the match for a foul on Luis Suarez.

Sergio Batista brought on Tevez for Aguero moments before the final whistle, and the substitution nearly paid off as Tevez launched a thunderous free-kick in the final minute of the game. But Muslera was up to the task, making a fine save with his foot as the free-kick deflected off the wall and reacting smartly to deny Higuain off the rebound.

Neither side could make the breakthrough in extra-time, though, despite the persistent efforts of Higuain, Tevez and substitute Javier Pastore, as Uruguay were forced further onto the back foot as the match progressed.

However, World Cup semi-finalists Uruguay held their nerve the better of the two sides in the penalty shootout to progress to the final four of the tournament.

In the semi-finals Uruguay will take on Peru, who scored twice in extra-time to defeat Colombia 2-0 in Cordoba on Saturday.

Carlos Lobaton and Juan Vargas were the heroes for Peru, but only after Colombia spurned their chances to win the game during the 90 minutes. Falcao missed a penalty just after the hour-mark, while fellow striker Dayro Moreno hit the post with a stinging strike.

Indeed, Colombia looked the more likely of the two sides throughout the contest, but after Falcao sent his spot-kick wide on 65 minutes following Alberto Rodríguez’s foul on Moreno, the momentum shifted toward the resilient Peruvians.

Peru broke the deadlock after 101 minutes when Colombian goalkeeper Luis Martinez collided with his own defender Mario Yepes and failed to claim a high free-kick. Lobaton was on hand to fire home the loose ball from the edge of the area.

The upset victory was then sealed 10 minutes later when Vargas scored to send Peru into the Copa America semi-finals for the first time since 1983.

draw 3-3

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has criticised Roberto Mancini after the Manchester City boss openly admitted to his interest in Samir Nasri.

Nasri’s future has been the subject of conjecture this summer after he entered the final year of his contract at Arsenal.

City have been strongly linked with the France international whilst Manchester United have also been mooted as potential suitors.

On Saturday, Mancini made no secret of his wish to bring Nasri to Eastlands. He said: “I hope that this player can arrive before the end of the month.”

And Wenger – who recently insisted Nasri, along with Cesc Fabregas, will be remaining at Arsenal – has reacted angrily to the comments.

Speaking after his side’s 1-1 draw with Hangzhou Greentown, he said: “I think the comments are not allowed. They are against the basic rules of football and he should be informed [of that].

“I don’t know what should be done. I don’t spend my time worrying about what other people say because we are focused on our game.

“What we want is respect and we don’t make these comments about players who are under contract at other clubs.

“Disrespectful? I cannot say otherwise. This comment is absolutely out of order but I don’t give it more importance than that.”

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