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CHICLAYO, Peru (AP) -- Reserve Carlos Tevez scored
on a free kick in the 61st minute to send Argentina to the semifinals of the
Copa America with a 1-0 win over Peru on Saturday.
Argentina will play defending champion Colombia,
which eliminated Costa Rica 2-0 later Saturday. Abel Aguilar and Tressor Moreno
scored in the first half for Colombia, unbeaten in 10 Copa America matches since
2001.
Aguilar one-timed a low right cross from Jairo
Patino near the penalty spot in the 41st minute, and Tressor Moreno converted a
penalty two minutes into first-half injury time after he was tripped up on a
breakaway by goalkeeper Ricardo Gonzalez.
Gonzalez dived and got a touch on Moreno's shot
into the bottom left corner but not enough, and thumped both fists on the turf.
In the early game, Tevez, a 20-year-old star on
Argentina's Boca Juniors club, bent a shot inside the left corner of the net and
out of the reach of goalkeeper Oscar Ibanez just three minutes after he came off
the bench, helping eliminate host Peru.
Peru received a free kick four minutes later,
but Nolberto Solano's attempt hit the crossbar.
Argentina, the first to advance to the
tournament's final four, will meet the winner of the Colombia-Costa Rica
quarterfinal later Saturday. Roberto Ayala was sent off in the 82nd minute,
forcing Argentina to finish a man down.
Argentina beat Peru for the 11th time in 16 Copa
matches. |
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