Argentina easily ousted defending champion Colombia 3-0 on Tuesday and cruised into the Copa America final for the first time since its 14th and last championship in 1993.
"Argentina showed flashes of playing at its best today," said Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa. "Only rarely have we played better."
Colombia's 10-match unbeaten Copa streak since 2001 ended in a timid and seemingly nervous display on its Independence Day.
PHOTO: AP
In Sunday's final, Argentina will play either Brazil or Uruguay, who meet in the second semifinal at National Stadium on Wednesday.
Colombia will play the loser for third place in Cusco on Saturday.
"We have to go out of the tournament playing as well as we can," said Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda. "Tonight Argentina was too much for us. They showed personality, were dynamic, and played with precision."
Argentina pinned Colombia on defense for most of the match, and the defending champions seemed to pay Argentina too much respect, and not take any risks until they were 2-0 down in the second half.
"We created good scoring opportunities and took advantage of them," Bielsa said.
Cesar Delgado, Gonzalez and Sorin all took shots on goal in the opening 15 minutes as Argentina showed the attacking flair which has netted it a tournament-high 14 goals in five matches.
It wasn't until the 19th that Colombia put Argentina goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri to work when Abel Aguilar's cross forced him to come off his line to make a leaping save.
Five minutes later, Gonzalez had an even better look at goal when Figueroa's shot left 'keeper Juan Carlos Henao sprawled on the ground, and Luis Gonzalez's left-footed shot was headed off the goal-line by Colombia defender Andres Gonzalez.
Tevez, starting for injured midfielder Andres D'Alessandro, drew a free kick when he was taken down by Aguilar, and scored when he curved the ball 25 meters over a six-man Colombian wall and past a diving Henao.
The goal recalled 20-year-old Tevez's bending free-kick score which beat Peru in the quarterfinals on Saturday. On Tuesday, he celebrated by running toward Bielsa before he was swamped by teammates.
Argentina's domination of the half was reflected by six corners and eight shots on goal at the 45,000-seat National Stadium which was less than half full.
Any hope Colombia had of pegging back the goal by starting the second half with a fresh outlook was flushed away within five minutes when an unmarked Luis Gonzalez one-timed a cutback pass from Figueroa for 2-0 and put the result beyond doubt.
Colombia finally snapped out of its lethargy, however, as Edwin Congo and Tressor Moreno spearheaded the attack, albeit in vain.
"Argentina took us completely out of our game," Rueda said. "We didn't communicate and we struggled to get organized."
Colombia's sweat was contrasted by the ease of Argentina's last goal, when Sorin easily slipped behind the defense and was almost on his knees when he headed in a free kick by replacement Mauro Rosales.
For Argentina, injured FC Barcelona striker Javier Saviola did not start for a third straight game, and Fabricio Coloccini replaced captain Roberto Ayala, who was suspended on yellow card accumulation.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
RSS