The hosts’ Copa quest ended in a dramatic penalty-shootout loss to neighbor Uruguay in the quarterfinals on Saturday, disappointing the fans watching the match in Santa Fe and millions more countrywide hoping to witness the national team win its first major title since 1993.
The game ended 1-1 after extra time and Uruguay won 5-4 on penalties after Carlos Tevez had his shot saved.
“Things didn’t go the way we wanted and we will have to make some corrections in the future,” Argentina coach Sergio Batista said.
Uruguay joined Peru as the first two teams in the final four of the South American competition.
Peru needed two extra-time goals to get past Colombia 2-0 in Cordoba. The Colombians, title-favorites after winning Group A ahead of Argentina, missed a 65th-minute penalty taken by Radamel Falcao and twice were denied by the woodwork in the final minutes.
“We’ve accomplished our goal, which was to at least do as well as we did in the last Copa America,” said Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, refereeing to the team’s semifinal appearance in 2007. “Now we will have another opportunity against Peru.”
Uruguay had a surprise appearance in the semifinals of last year’s World Cup, too, when it lost to the Netherlands.
The other two semifinalizts will be decided Sunday, when defending champion Brazil faces Paraguay and Chile takes on Venezuela. The Copa America winner will automatically earn a spot in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.
The tournament meant a lot more for Argentina, though, which hasn’t won a major title with its senior team since capturing the 1993 Copa America. In addition to having the support of the local supporters, the team also has the player considered the best in the world, Lionel Messi.
“National failure,” read a headline on the website of the Ole sports daily after the match. “Goodbye to the dream of winning the Copa at home. Not even Messi was able to save us ... What happens now to the Batista project?“
Batista responded defiantly to the immediate questioning of his tenure.
“My work began five, six months ago,” Batista said. “We have to continue with the project. It’s important to focus on the (2014) World Cup. I’m not happy, nobody likes to be eliminated, but I’m satisfied with the players.”
The Argentines won only one of their four matches, beating Costa Rica’s under-23 squad. It drew Bolivia 1-1 and Colombia 0-0 in its other group matches.
Argentina recovered after allowing an early goal at the packed Estadio Brig. Gen. Estanislao Lopez on Saturday, but it couldn’t capitalize on its chances in a match filled with opportunities for both sides. Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera made several key saves throughout the match.
“It has been a tremendous Copa for Fernando, he deserves it,” said Uruguay midfielder Alvaro Pereira. “Hopefully it will continue like this until the end.”
Diego Perez gave Uruguay a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute, but Gonzalo Higuain equalized for the host in the 18th. Both teams finished the tense match a man down. Perez was red-carded in the 39th and Argentina’s Javier Mascherano in the 87th.
In Cordoba, Colombia dominated most of the match against Peru but couldn’t take advantage of its scoring opportunities. FC Porto striker Falcao had the greatest chance with the penalty, but sent a low kick wide off the goal on the left.
“It came down to scoring. We couldn’t capitalize,” Colombia coach Hernan Dario Gomez said. “It came to details, because we have the scorers. Falcao never misses, he never misses.”
Peru came through in extra time, scoring through substitute midfielder Carlos Lobaton in the 101st and forward Juan Manuel Vargas in the 111th.
“It was a difficult match,” Vargas said. “I was happy with our team’s attitude, we never let our guard down. Now it’s time to focus on an even more important match (in the semifinals).”
Peru is through to the Copa America semifinals for the first time since 1997, when it finished fourth. It won the second of its two titles in 1975.
Colombia was trying to win it for the first time since 2001, when it hosted the tournament.
Brazil, with a squad mixed with youngsters being prepared for the 2014 World Cup, needs to get past Paraguay to keep alive its hopes of winning its third straight Copa America title. It won four of the past five trophies, including the past two finals against Argentina.
It is Brazil’s first big test under coach Mano Menezes, who replaced Dunga after the team’s disappointing elimination in the quarterfinals of the World Cup last year.
Brazil will face Paraguay for the second time in this year’s tournament. The Paraguayans let a victory slip away in their second group match by allowing a last-minute goal.
“It’s going to be a different match now,” Brazil striker Alexandre Pato said. “There is no more room for error, the team making a mistake now will go home.”
Brazil struggled in its first two matches but picked up the pace against Ecuador to secure a spot in the quarterfinals with a 4-2 victory.
Menezes is expected to maintain the starting lineup from that match, with Maicon on the right side of defense after an impressive performance against Ecuador.
Chile had a solid start to the tournament and will face a Venezuela squad that has been the surprise of the tournament so far. It drew Brazil 0-0 in its opener, then beat Ecuador 1-0 and pulled off an incredible comeback to draw 3-3 against Paraguay with two goals after the 89th minute.
