Copa America - Page 3

liam_hurricane · #21 (**permalink**) 07-02-2007, 08:18 PM

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liam_hurricane · #22 (**permalink**) 07-03-2007, 12:55 PM

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - Robinho received all the attention after Brazil's victory against Chile in the Copa America.

The Real Madrid striker scored all three goals in Brazil's 3-0 win Sunday in Venezuela, helping the team rebound from a disappointing opening loss to Mexico that had Brazilian fans and local media wondering whether the defending champion had enough to advance to the second round of the South American championship.

"Robinho 3 x 0 Chile," read a headline Monday in the O Globo newspaper.

Brazil was unimpressive, but Robinho's penalty in the 35th plus strikes in the 83rd and 87th minute secured the victory and moved Brazil into second place in Group B behind Mexico.

"Brazil struggles, but Robinho shines," read the front page of the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper, adding that the striker saved the day "for a team that doesn't deserve to be called Selecao Brasileira" (Brazilian national team).

Columnist Fernando Calazans said in the O Globo that "one truly Brazilian player like Robinho was enough to beat the Chileans."

Brazil manager Dunga is revamping the Brazilian squad with several young players. The team is without Kaka and Ronaldinho, who requested out of the competition to rest following the European season.

Brazil's next match is tomorrow against Ecuador.

liam_hurricane · #23 (**permalink**) 07-03-2007, 01:07 PM

PUERTO LA CRUZ, Venezuela (AP) - Ecuador came to the Copa America pounding its chest following its second World Cup appearance. It's been quiet lately from failing to impress in Venezuela.

The Ecuadoreans were sensational in the last South American qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup, and defeated Poland and Costa Rica in the group round at the finals in Germany. Ecuador was ultimately eliminated by England in the second round.

Ecuador's play during this year's South American championship, however, hasn't reached the same heights.

After losing 3-2 to Chile in its Copa America opener last Wednesday and falling 2-1 to Mexico in Group B on Sunday, the Ecuadoreans have been virtually eliminated.

Another loss would extend a long losing streak. Since the 1999 Copa America in Paraguay, Ecuador has a 1-10 record in the tournament.

Coach Luis Fernando Suarez says his team has failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

"If one gets to the goal so many times and doesn't score, something is wrong," he said. "We didn't complete our dominance. Soccer is won with goals."

The question has been raised whether Suarez made a mistake by including upcoming players on the roster while leaving out veteran strikers Agustin Delgado and Ivan Caviedes.

Despite Ecuador's recent woes, Suarez was convinced his team will regain its goal-scoring abilities before the World Cup elimination rounds at the end of the year.

"If we thought that what happened now is going to happen in the eliminations, I'd be worried, but I don't think it's going to happen," he said. "We think what is going to be presented at the World Cup qualifiers has to be absolutely different.

liam_hurricane · #24 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007, 11:46 PM

MARACAIBO, Venezuela (AP) - With two goals by Juan Roman Riquelme out of retirement, Argentina qualified for the Copa America quarterfinals thumping Colombia 4-2 on Monday.

After penalty goals by both sides, Riquelme scored the go-ahead goals in the 33rd and 45th minutes to guarantee the Albiceleste a spot in the quarterfinals along with fellow Group C side Paraguay, and Mexico.
Striker Hernan Crespo left the match limping on his right leg after converting a penalty in the 20th in reply to Edixon Perea's penalty for Colombia after 10 minutes.

The first of Riquelme's pair came off a centering shot from Javier Zanetti. Then, 12 minutes later, the midfielder curved a free kick over the Colombian wall and to the right corner of the net past a diving Miguel Calero.

Colombia's Jaime Castrillon cut the lead to one when he headed a Fabian Vargas corner kick that goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri tried to punch out but deflected into the net at the 73rd.

Diego Milito scored Argentina's fourth goal in injury time.

Riquelme retired from international play after the 2006 World Cup, saying criticism of his lackluster performance was affecting his mother's health. At coach Alfo Basile's urging he rejoined a star-studded Argentina for the Copa America after leading Boca Juniors last month to its sixth Copa Libertadores championship.

Argentina came to Venezuela seeking to win its 15th title and break free from a tie with Uruguay for the most tournament titles. In its first match, it easily defeated a second-string U.S. 4-1.

The defeat puts Colombia on the verge of elimination with one match remaining against the United States. The winner of that matchup on Thursday in Barquisimeto between the winless teams could still be in contention for a quarterfinal berth reserved for the two best third-place teams, depending on other group results.

Argentina and Paraguay, each with eight goals through two matches, face each other in the other match to determine who finishes atop Group C.
Lineups:

Argentina: Roberto Abbondanzieri, Javier Zanetti, Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Milito, Gabriel Heinze, Juan Sebastian Veron (Luis Gonzalez, 79), Javier Mascherano, Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Roman Riquelme, Lionel Messi (Carlos Tevez, 84), Hernan Crespo (Diego Milito, 21).

Colombia: Miguel Calero, Gerardo Vallejo, Luis Amaranto Perea, Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, Javier Arizala, John Viafara (Jaime Castrillon, 61), Fabian Vargas, Jorge Banguero, David Ferreira (Macnelly Torres, 75), Hugo Rodallega, Edixon Perea (Andres Chivita, 67).

liam_hurricane · #25 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007, 11:48 PM

MERIDA, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela won Group A and Uruguay crept into the Copa America quarterfinals after the teams played to a scoreless draw on Tuesday.

Venezuela, heading to its first ever Copa quarterfinals while hosting the South American championship for the first time, finished with five points, one more than Peru and Uruguay. All three teams made the last eight, in which play starts at the weekend.
Bolivia was eliminated after drawing 2-2 with Peru earlier Tuesday.

Coming off its second-ever Copa victory over Peru on Saturday, Venezuela threatened early and almost scored when after nine minutes striker Giancarlo Moldanado, from the goal line, passed back to a charging Juan Arango, who's shot flew a meter high of the crossbar.

Motivated by 40,000 screaming fans in a packed Metropolitan Stadium, who booed every time Uruguay touched the ball, Venezuela dominated possession and generated several scoring opportunities, though both teams slowed the pace of their attack in the second half.

Venezuela and Uruguay could meet again in the quarterfinals depending on which of the third-place spots Uruguay falls into after the remaining group matches.

Peru will face the winner of Thursday's Group C decider between Paraguay and Argentina.

In its first three games, Uruguay scored just one goal, by Vicente Sanchez against Peru, and looks a far cry from the legendary "Charrua" squads that are tied with Argentina for the most tournament championships, at 14 each.

"We came to Venezuela hoping to be one of the tournament contenders, but the opener (3-0 loss against Peru) hit us hard," Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said. "Perhaps we didn't achieve what we came looking for, but the important thing is we qualified."

Tabarez said whatever rival Uruguay faces in the quarterfinals, "it's going to be very difficult to win with such low goal production."

Inter Milan forward Alvaro Recoba, who was in doubt for the tournament after injuring his right leg just before Uruguay's opener, made his first appearance for the Charruas, subbing in for Sanchez in the 67th minute.

Lineups:

Venezuela: Renny Vega, Hector Gonzalez, Jose Manuel Rey, Alejandro Cichero, Edder Perez, Luis Vera, Miguel Mea Vitali (Pedro Fernandez, 76), Cesar Gonzalez, Juan Arango, Giancarlo Maldonado (Jose Torrealba, 56), Fernando De Ornellas (Alejandro Guerra, 65).

Uruguay: Fabian Carini, Diego Lugano, Andres Scotti, Dario Rodriguez, Jorge Fucile, Pablo Garcia, Maximiliano Garcia, Diego Perez, Cristian Rodriguez, Diego Forlan (Sebastian Abreu, 79), Vicente Sanchez (Alvaro Recoba, 67).

liam_hurricane · #26 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007, 11:50 PM

MARACAIBO, Venezuela (AP) - Argentina forward Hernan Crespo is likely to miss the rest of the Copa America after pulling a muscle in his right leg during a 4-2 win over Colombia.

"It's very difficult for Hernan to play again in this tournament," Homero de Agostino, Argentina's team doctor, said on Tuesday.
Crespo left the match limping on his right leg, immediately after converting Argentina's first goal, a penalty in the 20th minute.

"I felt the sharp pain as soon as I jumped to celebrate the goal," Crespo said. "I'm angry, of course, but I know the rest of the guys can achieve our goal of winning the tournament."

After two Group C matches, Crespo's three goals put him in a four-way tie with Brazil's Robinho and Paraguay's Roque Santa Cruz and Salvador Cabanas as the tournament's top scorers.

Although the Inter Milan striker will be missed, coach Alfo Basile has brought a powerful arsenal of forwards from European clubs that can easily fill the void and keep the team on track to winning its tournament-best 15th title.

Among the top candidates to take Crespo's place in the lineup for Thursday's match against Paraguay in Barquisimeto is Carlos Tevez. The striker for West Ham of the English Premier League scored a goal off the bench in Argentina's 4-1 opening blowout of the United States.

Starting defender Gabriel Milito, who plays for Spain's Zaragoza, will also miss the match to serve an automatic one-game suspension after receiving his second yellow card against Colombia. He'll be replaced by Daniel Diaz, who plays for Basile's former team Boca Juniors.

Thursday's game will decide who finishes atop Group C.

liam_hurricane · #27 (**permalink**) 07-05-2007, 11:53 PM

MERIDA, Venezuela (AP) - Peru advanced to the Copa America quarterfinals in dramatic fashion by coming from behind twice - once with a man down - to draw Bolivia 2-2 on Tuesday.

After both sides traded goals, a driving shot by Jhasmany Campos put Bolivia ahead 2-1 in first half injury time.
The score remained unchanged until Claudio Pizzaro - following the expulsion of substitute Jhoel Herrera in the 78th minute - headed in a Juan Carlos Marino free kick with five minutes remaining.

Pizarro had been in doubt to start the Group A match, complaining of muscular pains.

Bolivia could have reached the last eight with a victory, but was eliminated in group play for the fourth consecutive time in the South America championship.

Bolivia forward Jaime Moreno's lob from the edge of the area beat Peru goalkeeper Leao Butron for Bolivia's first goal in the 24th.

But Peru equalized nine minutes later on a counterattack, when Paolo Guerrero headed a free kick into the ground and inside the left post.

As in other matches, Venezuela's widening political divide made an appearance when the 40,000 fans in the Merida Metropolitan Stadium loudly booed when a video image of President Hugo Chavez holding the tournament trophy was broadcast on the scoreboard.

The government has spent US$1 billion (€740 million) building or renovating nine stadiums for the tournament, which Venezuela is hosting for the first time.

Lineups:

Peru: Leao Butron, John Galliquio (Jhoel Herrera, 56), Alberto Rodriguez, Edgar Villamarin, Walter Vilchez, Juan Carlos Marino, Paolo De La Haza, Damian Ismodes (Roberto Jimenez, 71), Jefferson Farfan (Israel Zuniga, 44), Paolo Guerrero, Claudio Pizarro.

Bolivia: Hugo Suarez, Miguel Hoyos, Ronald Raldes, Juan Manuel Pena, Lorgio Alvarez, Leonel Reyes, Jhasmany Campos (Gonzalo Galindo, 66), Gualberto Mojica (Jorge Ortiz, 80), Joselito Vaca, Jaime Moreno, Augusto Andaveris (Justiniano Arce, 56).

liam_hurricane · #28 (**permalink**) 07-06-2007, 12:02 AM

PUERTO LA CRUZ, Venezuela (AP) - A sluggish Brazil limped into the Copa America quarterfinals Wednesday, beating Ecuador 1-0 on a disputed penalty by Robinho.

After a scoreless first half, and with Ecuador threatening, Giovanni Espinoza was whistled for grabbing Robinho, who fell to the ground in the 56th minute.
Despite the protests of the Ecuadoreans, the Real Madrid striker buried the penalty shot just to the right of goalkeeper Marcelo Elizaga for his fourth goal in the South American championships, making him the tournament's top scorer so far.

Brazil finished second in Group B, setting up a quarterfinal rematch Saturday in Puerto La Cruz against Chile, which it beat 3-0 on a hat trick by Robinho.

Ecuador went home without a win despite having fielded much of the same squad that helped it qualify for the past two World Cups.

Brazil's victory also eliminated winless Colombia and United States, which face each other Thursday in their final Group C match.

The young Brazilian squad, lacking big name stars like Ronaldinho and Kaka, struggled offensively and showed only faint glimpses of its famed "jogo bonito" style of soccer. In three match, the five-time World Cup champions have scored just four goals. Two have come on penalties.

Paraguay's Roque Santa Cruz and Salvador Cabanas have three goals each with a final group match and at least a quarterfinal still to play.

Argentina's Hernan Crespo, also with three goals, is expected to miss the rest of the tournament after injuring his leg scoring a penalty in Argentina's 4-2 triumph over Colombia.

Lineups:

BRAZIL: Doni, Juan, Alex, Daniel Alves (Alex Silva, 80), Gilberto (Kleber, 56), Gilberto Silva, Mineiro, Josue, Julio Baptista (Diego, 73), Robinho and Vagner Love.

ECUADOR: Marcelo Elizaga, Oscar Bagui, Jorge Guagua, Giovanni Espinoza, Neicer Reasco, Segundo Castillo, Walter Ayovi (Felipe Caicedo, 75), Antonio Valencia, Edison Mendez, Cristian Benitez and Felix Borja (Carlos Tenorio, 60).

liam_hurricane · #29 (**permalink**) 07-06-2007, 12:04 AM

PUERTO LA CRUZ, Venezuela (AP) - Chile drew 0-0 with Mexico on Wednesday and guaranteed itself a spot in the Copa America quarterfinals, its third trip to the knockout rounds in the last four tries.

Mexico, which already had assured itself of a quarterfinal berth, finished atop Group B and next will face the Group C runner-up - either Argentina or Paraguay.
Ecuador and Brazil were to face each other in Wednesday remaining Group B match, in which the defending champion needed at least a draw to assure itself of a place in the quarterfinals.

Mexico, which was invited as a special guest to the South American championship along with the United States, struggled to find the form that upset Brazil 2-0 in its opener and easily defeated Ecuador in its second match.

Chile, although more ordered in its attack and dangerous early, proved ineffective in the area and Humberto Suazo's driving shot at the 21st minute flew just over the bar. The game resorted to a series of counterattacks in the second half.

Mexico will play Sunday in Maturin against the loser of Thursday's match between Paraguay and Argentina.

Chile must await the results of Brazil-Ecuador and Thursday's matches to see who it'll face in the next round.

Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay all have also qualified for the final eight.

Lineups

MEXICO: Guillermo Ochoa, Jonny Magallon, Francisco Rodriguez, Gonzalo Pineda (Fernando Arce, 81), Jose Castro, Jaime Lozano, Jaime Correa, Andres Guardado (Adolfo Bautista, 46), Alberto Medina, Omar Bravo (Luis Angel Landin, 74), Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

CHILE: Claudio Bravo, Ismael Fuentes, Sebastian Roco, Pablo Contreras, Rodrigo Tello, Arturo Sanhueza, Manuel Iturra, Gonzalo Fierro, Humberto Suazo, Carlos Villanueva (Matias Fernandez, 70), Juan Lorca (Mark Gonzalez, 77).

liam_hurricane · #30 (**permalink**) 07-06-2007, 12:08 AM

MARACAIBO, Venezuela (AP) - CONMEBOL was not pleased that the United States sent a second-choice side to the Copa America, while leaving many of its best players - like Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley - off the roster, one of the organization's top officials said Wednesday.

The U.S. team arrived in Venezuela for the Copa America on June 26 with only seven players from the roster that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup over Mexico in the final two days earlier.
Using a squad in which 16 players had 10 caps or fewer - including three who had never played internationally, the United States lost its first two matches against Argentina and Paraguay by a combined score of 7-2.

"We like for the continent's most important competition to be respected with the best players," CONMEBOL general secretary Eduardo Deluca told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

He said the Americans "opted to send a team with some players who aren't their regulars. That doesn't please us," Deluca told the AP.

However, he said the organization hopes for continued U.S. participation in the tournament.

Like the United States, Brazil also was short some of its great stars, including Ronaldinho and Kaka, who asked to be rested. The Brazil squad changes are part of a long-term effort by new coach Dunga to freshen the lineup.

Six members of the U.S. Gold Cup team were sent back to their clubs in Major League Soccer, engaged in the middle of their season, while another, U.S. manager Bob Bradley's son Michael, was sent with the American youth side to the Under-20 World Cup in Canada.

The United States and Mexico are the two invitees from North America. Mexico has regularly been a top contender and when first invited in 1993 lost in the final to Argentina. In 2001, Mexico made the final again and lost to Colombia.

"Mexico is always a candidate to win the Copa. It's in the race. It's one of the best," Deluca said.

He contrasted the second-tier U.S. team to that sent by Argentina, which includes top its regulars such as Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Juan Roman Riquelme.

"In Argentina it's normal. It's very difficult for Argentina to go anywhere with an alternate team," Deluca said.