PIURA, Peru (AP) -- Adriano scored twice and set up
two more goals to lead Brazil into the semifinals of the Copa America with a 4-0
rout of Mexico on Sunday night.
Brazil -- which hadn't reached the final four of the South American tournament
since winning in 1999 -- will play Uruguay, which beat Paraguay 3-1 earlier
Sunday at Tacna. The winner will face Argentina or Colombia for the championship.
Adriano, the tournament's leading scorer with five goals, scored on a
left-footed shot from just outside the box in the 65th minute. In the 78th, he
dribbled past goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez and easily found the net from inside
the box.
Midfielder Alex put Brazil ahead with a penalty kick in the 27th after Adriano
was brought down inside the box by Sanchez. Alex waited until Sanchez fell to
the right before easily sending his shot to the other side.
Ricardo Oliveira scored from about eight yards away after a heel pass from
Adriano, helping finish Brazil's first win over Mexico in six tries.
In the early game, Dario Silva scored two second-half goals to lead Uruguay to
its 100th Copa win. He found the net in the 65th minute shortly after teammate
Gustavo Varela was sent off. He added a goal in the 89th to help Uruguay join
Argentina and defending champion Colombia in the final four of the South
American championship.
Defender Carlos Gamarra gave Paraguay a 1-0 lead in the 15th, slipping behind
the defense to score on a header off Edgar Barreto's free kick.
But Gamarra opened the way for Uruguay to tie it in the 39th, tripping up
forward Carlos Bueno in the penalty area. Bueno easily converted the penalty
kick. |