Colombia 0-0 (4-5 on pens) Chile
Chile are through to the Copa America semi-finals after another penalty shootout. Alexis Sanchez scored the decider to break Colombian hearts.
Neither side could break the deadlock in 90 minutes though Chile had been denied by VAR, so the reigning champions will feel justice has been done; but it was a close fought match which could have gone either way. This was a clash between two genuine title contenders, and now the Copa America 2019 betting odds will be taking a closer look at Chile.
Meanwhile, in the other Copa America 2019 news tonight, Argentina beat Venezuela 2-0 to take their place in the semi-finals with a mouth watering clash against Brazil to look forward to.
Highlights of the game
The first half was a pretty even affair with Colombia starting the brighter and Chile coming into the game as the half wore on. Colombia’s veteran striker Ramadel Falcao created an early chance for Roger Martinez with a deft headed pass, but his shot was blocked. James Rodriguez had a shot charged down and then Martinez had another long range effort which flew wide of the post.
Colombia’s David Ospina was the first goalkeeper to be called into action, stopping a header from Charles Aranguiz after he met a cross from Jose Pedro Fuenzalida.
On 15 minutes we had the customary VAR confusion when Alexis Sanchez collected a through ball from Arturo Vidal and was flagged offside. VAR seemed to award a goal but after two minutes of tension the game was restarted at 0-0.
Falcao came close to breaking the deadlock with a left footed shot from outside the box but Gabriel Arias got down well to save.
Chile finished the half stronger with Guillermo Maripan heading a corner over the bar. Then when Mauricio Isla threaded a ball through to Sanchez, the Manchester United striker was inches wide with his effort.
In the last action of the first 45 minutes, Sanchez passed to Arturo Vidal and he too was close but his shot whistled narrowly past the right hand post.
Colombia started the second half as they had the first, James Rodriguez sizing up a free-kick and then hitting a sweet shot which flew narrowly wide of Arias’ right post. And then, as Colombia broke quickly, Falcao fed Juan Quadrado but his shot was wide.
Chile responded and when Vidal passed to Eduardo Vargas, he forced a good save out of Ospina as his shot headed for the corner of the Colombian’s net. When Charles Aranguiz put Sanchez through on goal he shot wide with just the keeper to beat.
Chile thought they’d finally broke the deadlock on 70 minutes when Maripan found Vidal with space in the penalty area and he made no mistake, firing low into the corner and giving Ospina no chance. But VAR intervened once again and Maripan was adjudged to have handled in the build up.
The centre-back tried to make amends putting Sanchez through on goal, but again the striker was flagged offside. And then Vargas forced another save out of Ospina.
Neither side could beat the opposition defence, or VAR for that matter, so penalties was the inevitable nerve-jangling climax.
The first eight penalties all hit the net, and then poor William Tesillo missed the target to leave the cool hit man Sanchez to slot home Chile’s winner.
Key statistics
The draw at pre-match odds of 3.10 with SBOBET came home in 90 minutes, with a little help from VAR.
In a well contested first 45 Chile had the better of the half as it went on, and ended up with 58 per cent possession, while both sides managed four shots.
But it was a stop-start half of football with 17 fouls and the early VAR delay.
By the end of the game, Chile still had 58 per cent of the ball and won the shot count by ten to six.
Chile still have the better of the head-to-heads, winning four drawing six and losing two against Colombia since 2004.
And Chile is now unbeaten in five against Colombia; four have been draws.
What’s next?
Having seen Brazil struggle to see off Paraguay, winning a nail-biting penalty shootout last night, you have to say this tournament is wide open. And with three of South America’s strongest sides already through, tonight’s victors are awaiting the outcome of the last quarter-final between Uruguay and Peru.
I’d expect Uruguay, with the quality of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, to come through that game to set up another great semi-final against Chile.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
