The 2011 Copa América knockout stage started heating up on Saturday with Peru’s 2-0 extra time win over Colombia through two superbly taken goals, and got white hot a little later in the day with a brilliant match between great rivals Argentina and Uruguay, which finished in a 1-1 draw, and which Uruguay – sixty-one years to the day after they beat Brazil in the Maracanã to win the 1950 World Cup – won 5-4 on penalties to advance to play Peru in the semi-final. Sergio Batista’s Argentina, many people’s pre-tournament favourites, are out, having never really hit the notes they should have been capable of. The highlights are right here.
Copa América Argentina 2011, Sat 16th July, quarter-finals
Colombia 0 – 2 Peru (AET)
Argentina 1 – 1 Uruguay (AET; Uruguay win 4-5 on penalties)
Uruguay and Peru will thus face off in the first semi-final, to be played in La Plata on Tuesday night.
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Photo taken from ca2011.com
Hasta El Gol Siempre 
A damn shame about Argentina, but not difficult to see it coming. Their play improved after Batista dumped the Messi as a false #9 plan, but they continued to struggle to finish. Add in their woeful backline and the almost comic defense in dead ball situations and…..voila.
What will this do to Tevezs popurality as the man of the people in buenos aires ? Will they forgive him. I have followed Carlitos since his bocas days and always has been a favourite of mine apart from when he joined United a club i despise. Will he be blamed solely by the argentinain public for missing the penalty ?
I was lucky enough to be at the games involving Peru and Venezuela. great for the smaller nations and all that but having watched both luck had a huge part to play, Colombia and Chile dominated both games. Chile especially played good exciting attacking football in the 2nd half, will be a shame not to see them and 50,000 Chileans in Mendoza on Wednesday…anyone need a ticket for Paraguay Venezuela semi final?!
At Rich, seems that Batista is taking all the blame!