Sebastian Abreu’s winning penalty for Uruguay was one of the most audacious shots to win a shootout since Antonin Panenka made the move famous to win the 1976 European Championship.
Abreu’s chip lazily arced into the Ghana net to complete a 4-2 shootout victory, following a 1-1 draw after extra time, and send the South Americans into the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1970.
Panenka perfected the penalty that bears his name when Czechoslovakia beat West Germany 5-3 in a shootout in the Euro 1976 final.
“It’s a way of kicking [penalties],” said the 33-year-old Abreu, who was not born when Panenka made his name. “I believe in it, and the team has given me confidence to believe it’s the right way.”
Abreu has earned the nickname El Loco — the crazy one — in a nomadic career representing a procession of clubs across South America and Europe. His latest stop is Botafogo in Brazil, where Abreu also has responsibility for taking penalties, Panenka-style.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez saw only good sense in Abreu’s composure when put on the spot on Friday.
“It wasn’t crazy, it was a goal,” Tabarez said. “I call that class. He did that against Brazil in Copa America, and the result was the same.”
Abreu is one of only two veterans in the World Cup squad from Uruguay’s last appearance at the tournament eight years ago.
On that occasion in Japan and South Korea with Abreu and Diego Forlan leading the attack, Uruguay exited after the group stage.
On Tuesday, the South Americans will play a semi-final — Uruguay’s first since 1970 — against the Netherlands in Cape Town.
And Abreu will get another chance to add to his 30 international goals, one short of the national record held by Hector Scarone.
Scarone ended his Uruguay career as a World Cup winner at the inaugural tournament in 1930.
Abreu chipped in with his contribution on Friday to keep heading in the same direction.
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