VINA DEL MAR: Four years after his miss in a penalty shootout sent Argentina spinning out of the Copa America, Carlos Tevez slammed home the winning spot kick against Colombia on Friday to book his country’s place in this year’s semi-finals.

After a scoreless draw over 90 minutes in which Argentina did everything but score against a Colombian side inspired by one of the tournament’s great goalkeeping performances, Tevez stepped up to beat David Ospina and seal the shootout 5-4 after Jeison Murillo had blazed over the bar.

The game moved immediately to penalties after regulation time with no extra-time. Extra-time can be played only in the July 4 final.

“Incredible,” said Argentina star Lionel Messi. “It was the best match we played in the Copa America.”

In a nervous climax to the shootout, Argentina twice spurned chances to win it, as Lucas Biglia shot wide and Marcos Rojo hit the crossbar before the 31-year-old Tevez, who came on as a second half substitute, provided the dramatic final twist.

Argentina, who have not won the Copa America since 1993, will play either Brazil or Paraguay in next week’s semi-finals and Tevez admitted his contribution to victory — after his nightmare miss saw Argentina lose to Uruguay in the quarter-finals of the 2011 tournament on home soil — was sweet.

“In football there’s always a second chance,” Tevez, who earlier on Friday sealed his move back boyhood club Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, told television cameras moments after grabbing the winner.

“But tonight is not about me, it’s about my team-mates. Today is a victory for my team mates because we played a fantastic game and I am very proud to be a member of this team. Being here means we are doing things very well.”

Tevez, who spent three long years frozen out of Argentina’s national team before returning after the 2014 World Cup, said he was happy with his non-starting role in the Albiceleste.

“I enjoy playing, the team is playing well and I just have to wait for my chance,” Tevez said.

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino admitted that he had deliberately omitted Tevez from his list of five designated penalty takers for the shoot-out in order to ease pressure on the former Manchester City striker.

ARGENTINA players celebrate after reaching the Copa America semi-finals.—Reuters

“I didn’t put Tevez among the top five because the last time he shot, Argentina went out. We wanted to avoid that,” Martino revealed.

While Tevez sealed the win, Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina was man of the match, making some remarkable stops to keep his side in the game.

The Arsenal goalie made a sensational double save in the 25th minute when he dived to keep out a point-blank shot from Sergio Aguero with his legs and then got up to parry Lionel Messi’s header from the rebound.

He also did just enough to tip a shot from Nicolas Otamendi onto the post with 10 minutes left. Jeison Murillo scooped the ball off the line with seconds to go as Argentina piled on the pressure.

“We were up against a great team,” Ospina said. “You have to acknowledge this. We tried to shut them down tactically. The penalties are a lottery and unfortunately, today we had the losing ticket.”

Argentina, who lost last year’s World Cup final 1-0 to Germany, are trying to win it first major title since in 22 years and earlier dominated a one-sided first half which at times threatened to spiral out of control with both sides committing a series of niggly fouls.

Argentina midfielder Javier Pastore was the first to threaten, touching on a low cross from Angel Di Maria that was cleared at the near post by the Colombian cover after only seven minutes.

Three minutes later captain Messi swept forward from halfway and released Di Maria in space only for the Manchester United striker to shoot tamely at Ospina.

Colombia star James Rodriguez became the first of six players to receive a caution in the opening 45 minutes when he was booked for dissent.

By half time three more Colom­bians — Santiago Arias, Alexa­nder Mejia and Juan Cuadrado — had earned yellow cards.

For Argentina, both Javier Mascherano and Sergio Aguero were booked.

Colombia then slowed Argentina’s attack in the second half and took away space. Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero made his first save of the match in the 67th.

In the shootout, Colombia shot first and both teams converted their first three kicks. Colombia substitute Luis Muriel was the first to miss when he shot high, and Argentina substitute Ezequiel Lavezzi converted off a post to give his team the advantage.

Needing to score to keep his team alive, another Colombia substitute Edwin Cardona found the net to put pressure on Biglia, whose miss made it 4-4. The next three penalties were all missed, leaving Tevez to rifle in the winner.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2015

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