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Riquelme fires Argentina into quarter-finals

Argentina midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme celebrates his second goal against Colombia in the Pachencho Romero stadium in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on Monday. Photo: EPA

Juan Roman Riquelme's first-half double fired Argentina into the quarter-finals of the Copa America with a 4-2 win against 10-man Colombia on Monday.

Edison Perea handed Colombia the lead but Hernan Crespo's penalty kick and Riquelme's brace handed Argentina a convincing halftime lead.

Jaime Castrillon pulled a goal back for Colombia with 18 minutes remaining, but following Fabian Vargas' dismissal, Diego Milito sealed the victory in stoppage time.

Argentina and Paraguay, who claimed a 3-1 victory over the US earlier on Monday, top Group C with unbeaten records and will meet on Thursday to decide the group winner.

Colombia made a nervous start to the match and Argentina came close to opening the scoring after just five minutes as Crespo's header from Riquelme's corner struck the crossbar and bounced down on the line before being scrambled clear.

Crespo surpassed Diego Maradona's goal-scoring tally of 34 to move into second place on Argentina's list, but was unable to add to the total after being replaced by Milito moments after converting from the spot.

Colombia goalkeeper Miguel Calero denied Milito before Castrillon reduced the deficit after 72 minutes.

Midfielder Javier Arizala came close to snatching an equalizer with five minutes remaining as his long-range effort beat Roberto Abbondanzieri but struck the post before Vargas picked up his second yellow card.

Milito wasted an opportunity to re-establish the two goals cushion before finally sealling the win in stoppage time.

? Keller may retire

AP, BARINAS, Venezuela

Goalkeeper Kasey Keller, a veteran of four World Cups for the US, may retire if he doesn't find a new club to his liking.

Keller, who made his 102nd appearance for the US in the 3-1 loss to Paraguay in the Copa America on Monday, said he had received seven or eight offers from clubs around the world but that he was still waiting for the right opportunity for him and his family.

"If in four or six weeks I don't find the perfect opportunity that would allow me to play another year or two at the top level then yes, retirement is a possibility," Keller said in Spanish following the US defeat on Monday.

Kasey played the last two seasons at Borussia Moenchengladbach, and was often ranked among the Bundesliga's top goalkeepers. But he left the team at the end of the season, when Moenchengladbach was relegated to Germany's second division, and his future has been in doubt ever since.
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