Highlights: Argentina beat Colombia 5-4 in penalty shootout to reach Copa America semi-final
Argentina qualified for the 2015 Copa America semi-finals with a 5-4 win over Colombia in the quarter-final at Vina del Mar on Friday night. Carlos Tevez scored the decisive penalty to send La Albiceleste through where they will wait for the winner of Brazil’s game against Paraguay.
With no extra-time in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Copa America, the match went straight to penalties. Colombia’s James Rodriguez converted the first penalty before Lionel Messi took Argentina's first penalty and converted his spot-kick by sending David Opsina the wrong way.
Radamel Falcao and Juan Cuadrado scored for Colombia before Luis Muriel missed his spot kick after his attempt went too high. Ezequiel Garay, Ever Banega and Ezequiel Lavezzi scored for Argentina. But when Biglia had the chance to win it, his shot was too wide and the shootout went into sudden death.
Sergio Romero then saved Juan Zuniga’s penalty before Marcos Rojo hit the bar. With the score still reading 4-4, Jeison Murillo took what was easily the worst penalty kick in the shootout with the ball going sky high above the crossbar.
Carlos Tevez, who had missed a penalty in the 2011 Copa America stepped up and put the ball past Ospina, even though the Colombian goalkeeper guessed correctly. Lionel Messi was awarded the man of the match after Argentina qualified.