Uruguay vs. Colombia
Colombia beat Uruguay 4-2 on penalties to advance to the semi-finals. The game was as even as it could get and remained scoreless after 90 minutes. Colombia would have more chances to score but tied for shots on target with 3 a piece. The game was very fast paced and rough, ending with a total of 39 fouls called, yet only one yellow card administered.
They game was played mostly in the middle as there was only a total of six threatening chances. Uruguayan Cavani got more involved this time around, receiving the ball further back and trying to create more.
Colombia played without their main player Juan Cuadrado, as he was serving a suspension for yellow card accumulation. They seemed to pick up the pace as they were playing faster and worked more plays down the middle of the field. In previous games, they would limit attacking play to mostly the wings.
When it came down to the penalty shootout, Colombia won the toss and elected to shoot first in the penalty shootout. Colombia made all 4 of their penalties. Only Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez would convert for Uruguay, as keeper David Ospina would save both José Giménez and Matías Viña’s penalties.
This win means that Colombia are now into the semi-finals, were they will play Argentina.
Argentina vs. Ecuador
Two goals in the last six minutes helps Argentina defeat Ecuador 3-0 tonight at the Estádio Olímpico Pedro Ludovico in Goiânia, Brazil. The game was mostly even with Ecuador ending the game with 54% of possession. The game was rough and ended with 30 fouls, five yellow cards and one red card.
Argentina would pull ahead in the 40th minute when a miss timed slide from keeper Hernán Galíndez leaves Messi open with the ball. Messi then passed it to Rodrigo De Paul who slots it passed the two helpless defenders who were trying to block as much of the goal as they could.
Ecuador had a couple chances to tie things up but striker Enner Valencia was off today as he missed three headers from positions closer than the penalty spot.
The game would slip away from Ecuador starting at the 84th minute when bad pass from Galíndez was intercepted. The ball is then played to Lautaro Martinez in a one-on-one position, where he puts it passed the keeper and into the upper right corner.
The last goal came at the 93rd minute of added time when a collapse in defense causes defender Piero Hincapié to foul Argentine Angel Di Maria right outside of the box. This resulted in the defender getting sent off and a classic Messi freekick. Messi would shoot across the goal and put it into the upper right-hand corner.
Argentina played with more intensity this game, but also looked nervous throughout, as if they were unsure of pulling off a win. It wasn’t until the last 10 minutes that Argentina felt at ease.
This win means that Argentina are now into the semi-finals, where they will play Colombia.
Photo: Lionel Messi, Wikipedia, Creative Commons