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Copa America: Chile beats Colombia on penalties to reach semis
After having two goals disqualified after video reviews, Chile kept its cool and stayed on track to defend its title.
Reigning champions Chile advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa America after beating Colombia 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw at the Corinthians arena.
Alexis Sanchez got the winning spot kick after William Tesillo pulled Colombia’s last penalty wide of the post on Friday night.
Chile will face either Uruguay or Peru in Wednesday’s semi-final in Porto Alegre. The other semi is between hosts Brazil and Argentina.
“I think we had opportunities (during the game),” said Chile’s Charles Aranguiz. “We didn’t take them and we had to do it on penalties.
“Our team is confident when it comes to penalties, we have won two finals on penalties. So that gives us energy.”
ALEXIS SÁNCHEZ SCORES THE WINNING PENALTY!!!#Chile beat #Colombia 5-4 on penalties! The two-time defending champions stay alive and advance to #CopaAmerica semifinals.#COLCHI #LaRoja ?????? pic.twitter.com/644lp9Xmv7
Tempers frequently flared in a match with 35 fouls but there was no lack of quality on show as both sides created chances.
Chile were unlucky not to win in regulation time, with Aranguiz in the first half and Arturo Vidal in the second having goals chalked off after video assistant referee (VAR) reviews.
“It’s difficult because you’re going at 100 miles an hour and then they annul two goals,” said Vidal.
“But we kept our heads and won it on the penalties.”
The kick-off at the Corinthians arena was delayed by 20 minutes after the Chilean squad didn’t arrive in time because of heavy traffic in Sao Paulo, keeping more than 40,000 fans waiting.
Chilean media said it took nearly two hours for the squad to get to the stadium in the suburbs of Brazil’s biggest city.
Chile had beaten Argentina in the last two Copa finals on penalty kicks and they gave Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina no chance on Friday.
?⚽️ The favourites are out. ?? Colombia have been knocked out of the 2019 Copa America after a loss on penalty kicks to ?? Chile in the third quarterfinal.
?? Argentina through to the Copa America semifinals thanks to a 2-0 win over ?? Venezuela at the Maracana.#CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/OAbhupw8tT
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