PIURA, Peru, 15 July 2004 — Argentina set up a Copa America quarterfinal against hosts Peru after their 4-2 win over neighbors Uruguay on Tuesday, while Mexico sent unhappy Ecuador packing.
Striker Luciano Figueroa’s first two goals for his country steered Argentina clear of a possible quarterfinal with Brazil.
Mexico kicked off the Group B double bill with a 2-1 win over Ecuador, who finished bottom of the group with three straight defeats.
The Mexicans finished top with seven points and stay in Piura to face the runners-up in Group C on Sunday, which could be Paraguay or Chile.
Second-placed Argentina travel to Chiclayo for Saturday’s showdown with the hosts and Uruguay qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
The Uruguayans appear set to finish as the best of the third-placed teams which will earn them a trip to Tacna at the southern extreme of the country, nearly 2,000 kilometers away, where their most likely opponents will be Brazil.
Argentina, beaten 1-0 by Mexico on Saturday, and Uruguay were both qualified before kicking off their match but still served up a typically full-blooded River Plate derby.
“This game was similar to the one against Mexico,” said Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa. “The difference is that we scored in this one and we didn’t against Mexico.”
Uruguay coach Jorge Fossati, whose team had conceded eight goals in losing two World Cup qualifiers when he took over, was delighted with his side’s improvement at the Copa America.
Uruguay defender Joe Bizera was sent off in the 35th minute while teammate Carlos Diogo produced arguably the worst tackle of the tournament when he lunged two-footed at Cristian Gonzalez’s shins. Remarkably, he escaped with a yellow card.
Fabian Estoyanoff fired Uruguay ahead with a right-footed volley after seven minutes before Argentina replied with two quick goals.
Cristian Gonzalez slotted home a 20th-minute penalty after a foul on Cesar Delgado, then Figueroa scored from close range less than one minute later.
That blow, followed by Bizera’s sending-off, would have floored many teams.
But the tenacious Uruguayans equalized in the 38th minute when Vicente Sanchez connected with a loose ball and scored with a 25-meter left-foot shot.
Argentina dominated the rest of the game but appeared set to be frustrated until captain Roberto Ayala scored with a brilliant header from a corner in the 81st minute. Figueroa sealed the win with his second goal in the 90th.
Claudio Suarez, the world’s most capped international, made his first appearance of the Copa and the 172nd of his Mexico career in the game against Ecuador.
Striker Adolfo Bautista was Mexico’s hero, winning the 27th minute penalty from which Hector Altamirano opened the scoring, and helping himself to the second on the break just before halftime. Agustin Delgado headed one for Ecuador as they staged a late fight-back.
Trinidad and Tobago Hold
South Korea to 1-1 Draw
In Seoul, Trinidad and Tobago held South Korea, the 2002 World Cup semifinalists, to a 1-1 draw in a friendly at Seoul’s World Cup Stadium yesterday.
The visitors staved off South Korea’s early push before Scott Sealy came close to scoring in the 33rd minute with a swerving 25-meter shot that smacked off the bar.
After a goalless first half, Dutchman Jo Bonfrere replaced the unimpressive duo of Seol Ki-hyeon and Ahn Jung-hwan with Chung Kyung-ho and Cha Du-ri.
Cha, the son of famous Asian striker Cha Bum-kun, opened the scoring seven minutes into the second half, tapping a cross from defender Kim Tae-young through the legs of goalkeeper Kelvin Jack.
Kim, 33, was making his 100th international appearance.
Trinidad and Tobago equalized in the 77th minute when Jason Scotland fired a powerful long-range shot which was into the left corner of the goal.
With two minutes to go, PSV Eindhoven midfielder Park Ji-sung went close but Jack tipped his shot on to the upright.
It was the second friendly under Bonfrere who took over as new coach of South Korea two weeks ago after Portugal’s Humberto Coelho quit following a string of poor results.
The 2002 World Cup semifinalists were using the two friendly matches as preparation ahead of the Asian Cup in China. They will face Jordan on July 19 in their opening match.
