Copa America - Quarter Final Results

The preliminaries are over - and the big guns bared their teeth over the weekend in the Copa America Quarter-Finals.

On Saturday :

Uruguay 4-1 Venezuela (HT 1-1)
Uruguay were too strong for hosts Venezuela, taking an early lead in the first half although the home side did peg it back just before halftime.

However, in the second half Uruguay showed their class with a well taken second goal and then a pair of goals late on inflated the score to a lopsided 4-1 margin.

Brazil 6-1 Chile (HT 3-0)
In the second game Brazil demonstrated some great power and precision to defeat Chile for the second time in the tournament - but more than that they managed to send a warning that the "Samba Swagger" was back.

Brazil took the lead after 14 minutes when Bayer Leverkusen defender Juan took advantage of a static Chilean defence to head home Maicon's corner.

Six minutes later, Maicon won the ball in the midfield and fed Vagner Love, who in turn found Julio Batista and the forward made no mistake from inside the box.

Robinho then made it 3-0 after some good individual work resulted in a measured finish from the edge of area.

Robinho grabbed his second of the game on 51 minutes as the Real Madrid forward applied the finish to Gilberto Silva's cross after the Chilean defence had once again gone missing.

It was 5-0 after 68 minutes when Chile keeper Claudio Bravo parried Afonso's shot but was powerless to stop Josue converting the rebound.

Chile did bag a consolation goal eight minutes later when striker Humberto Suazo cleverly lobbed the ball over but Vagner Love completed the rout right at the death after good approach work from Elano.

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On Sunday :

Mexico 6-0 Paraguay (HT 3-0)
Mexico made a huge impact on the Copa America with this 6-0 thrashing of Paraguay, although their task was made easier by the 2nd minute dismissal of Paraguayian keeper Aldo Bobadilla when a woeful back-pass from Julio Cesar Caceres allowed Nery Castillo to get a clear run on goal which was crudely halted by Bobadilla.

Bobadilla was shown the red card and Castillo slotted home the spot-kick past replacement custodian Joel Zayas.

The second goal came in the 26th minute when Juan Carlos Cacho burst through midfield without a challenge before laying the ball off to Gerardo Torrado and his rising drive flew past the helpless Zayas.

Twelve minutes later, Castillo proved why he has been one of the Copa America's outstanding performers with his fourth goal of the tournament - a fine volley from the edge of the area.

A late flurry of goals in the final 11 minutes blew out the score - but this match was dead and buried by halftime.

Argentina 4-0 Peru (HT 0-0)
Argentina showed some real steel in the second half of the final Copa America quarter-final with their big players getting on the scoreboard.

Goals from Riquelme (47, 85), Messi (62) and Mascherano (75) meant that the Argentine side fired back their own warning message - as they completed the set of four big victories.

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Semi-final matches :

Brazil now face Uruguay in Maracaibo on Tuesday for a place in the Copa America final while Argentina will play Mexico.

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Betting Action Coming up This Week

This week is going to be full of sports excitement: you just need to pick your event from The Wimbledon Final, Copa America, Wonders of the World!

WIMBLEDON
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From this Friday onwards, the grass courts will be on fire at Wimbledon as players edge towards the final. You could be a winner if you tick the right boxes with Paddy Power betting on the hottest clashes - and get automatic insurance againt a 5-set loss.

COPA AMERICA
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Also this week the Copa America Quarter and Semi Finals. South America is hotting up with the action So are we! The Quarter Finals are on 7 and 8 July and the Semi Finals are on 10 and 11 July.

Check out our daily Copa America betting previews on the main site.

WONDERS OF THE WORLD
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You still have the chance to bet on the New Wonders of the World - and European bookmaker Globet have set up a special book for this event.

Millions of voters will select the New 7 Wonders of the World. The winners will be announced in Lisbon, Portugal on 7 July - surely there are some easy winners !!

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Copa America : Argentina 4-2 Columbia

Argentina thrashed Colombia 4-2 and Paraguay overcame the United States 3-1 to claim berths in their Copa America quarterfinals on Monday.

The results were also good news for host Venezuela, who advanced to the last eight for the first time ever as, at worst, one of the two best third-place finishers.

Argentina were led by Juan Roman Riquelme’s two first-half goals — one off a header in the 33rd minute and then a curving free kick over a Colombian wall just before halftime — Argentina resumed the dominant offensive play that allowed it to breeze past the United States in their opening match.

For Colombia, Edixon Perea scored the game’s opening goal off a penalty, and Jaime Castrillon closed the gap to 2-3 but Argentina looked in control throughout.

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In the other Group C game - the United States played far better than their first match and competed well - but Paraguay were sharper in and around the box and took their chances well.

Oscar Cardozo set up Edgar Barreto’s goal in the 30th with a sharp pass between two defenders, before US equalised with their first goal from open play in the tournament when Taylor Twellman knocked down a deep ball to Ricardo Clark, who buried a shot past a diving Justo Villar just inside the near post.

With the Americans threatening, Cardozo then put Paraguay ahead at the start of the second-half and substitute Salvador Cabanas scored off the bench with a free kick in injury time.

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Copa America Results : Brazil and Mexico win

Brazil beat Chile 3-0 at the unfinished Monumental stadium on Sunday with Robinho scoring a hat-trick.

Despite the scoreline, Brazil were far from convincing for most of the game and spared by poor Chilean finishing in the second half.

Brazil struggled to find a way through Chile's packed defence early on and Robinho, apart from a couple of trademark stepovers, saw little of the ball.

But they were gifted a chance in the 36th minute when Gilberto's cross from the left was comfortably held by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo but the referee gave a penalty, apparently for pushing.

Robinho calmly scored with a low shot which just eluded Bravo's outstretched hand.

Chile came out fighting after halftime and striker Humberto Suazo was close from a free kick. Shortly afterwards, the shaven-headed Suazo was put clean through but delayed and, by the time he shot, there were three Brazilian defenders on the line to clear the ball.

Jorge Valdivia wasted another chance when he shot straight at a defender from close range. Robinho finished the Chileans off in the 84th minute when he latched onto Vanger Love's pass and chipped over Bravo.

Three minutes later, he collected the ball 40 metres from goal, dribbled past two defenders and scored with a shot into the corner.

Group B : Brazil 3-0 Chile
Scorers :
- Brazil - Robinho 36 (p), 84, 87;

Haltime 1-0

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In other Group B news, Mexico reached the quarter-finals of the Copa America with a 2-1 victory over Ecuador. The result leaves the Mexicans on top of the group with the maximum six points. Rivals Brazil and Chile have three points each.

Group B : Mexico 2-1 Ecuador
Scorers :
- Mexico - N.A.Castillo 22, O.Bravo 80;
- Ecuador - E.Mendez 85;

Haltime 1-0

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Copa America : Venezuela and Uruguay win

San Cristobal, Venezuela :


Copa America hosts Venezuela beat Peru, 2-0, on Saturday to win for just the second time in the tournament's history and move into first place in Group A.

Defender Alejandro Cichero and substitute Daniel Arismendi scored in the second half for Venezuela, which had a man advantage for nearly the entire game.

Peru's Pedro Garcia was given a red card in the 14th minute, giving Venezuela an advantage until the 77th minute when Ricardo Paez was sent off for getting a second yellow card.

The heated game included scuffles near the end. Venezuela moved ahead of Peru into the top spot in the group. Venezuela has four points and Peru three.

Venezuela's only other Copa America win was against Bolivia in 1967.

Group A : Venezuela 2-0 Peru
Scorers :
- Venezuela - A.Cichero 49, D. Arismendi 79;

Halftime 0-0

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In Saturday's other Group A game, Vicente Sanchez scored the lone goal to give Uruguay a 1-0 win over Bolivia.

Group A : Uruguay 1-0 Bolivia
Scorers :
- Uruguay - Y.M.Sanchez 58;

Halftime 0-0

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Copa America : Paraguay and Argentina score big wins

Group C : Paraguay 5-0 Colombia
Scorers :
- Paraguay - R.S.Cruz 30, 46, 81; S.Cabanas 85, 88;

Halftime 1-0

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Group C : Argentina 4-1 United States
Scorers :
- Argentina - Hernan Crespo 11, 64; P.C.Aimar 78, C.A.Tevez 85;
- United States - E.Johnson (pen) 9

Halftime 1-1

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Copa America Results - Mexico stun Brazil

Football : Mexico and Chile grab vital wins

PUERTO ORDAZ, Venezuela, June 27, 2007
Mexico upset Brazil for the second straight time at a major tournament, beating the five-time world champions 2-0 Wednesday night in the first round of the Copa America.

Nery Castillo scored on a spectacular solo effort in the 23rd minute when he took a pass from Juan Carlos Cacho, flicked the ball over defender Maicon, collected it again and beat goalkeeper Doni.

Ramon Morales doubled the lead with a 25-yard free kick in the 29th that froze Doni so much that the goalkeeper didn't even attempt to stop it.

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made a half-dozen excellent saves in the second half to keep a clean sheet for El Tri, including several stops on Robinho and a diving save on Afonso in the 62nd.

Robinho, who put the ball over the crossbar on a first-half bicycle kick, saw an angled shot pushed off the crossbar by Ochoa in the second half. Ochoa took over in goal from Oswaldo Sanchez, who has been Mexico's No. 1 keeper in recent years.

Group B : Brazil 0 Mexico 2
Scorers :
Mexico - Nery Castillo 23, Ramon Morales 29

Halftime: 0-2.

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In the opener of the Group B doubleheader, Chile rallied twice to beat Ecuador 3-2.

Carlos Villaneuva bent a free kick over a defensive wall and into the upper corner of the net for the winning goal in the 87th minute.

Ecuador, knocked out of last year's World Cup in the second round by England, got goals from Antonio Valencia in the 16th minute and Segundo Castillo in the 23rd. Humberto Suazo scored in the 21st and 80th minutes for Chile.

Group B : Chile 3 Ecuador 2
Scorers :
Chile - Humberto Suazo 21, 80, Carlos Villaneuva 87
Ecuador - Antonio Valencia 16, Segundo Castillo 23

Halftime: 1-2.

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2007 Copa America Results - 26th June

Football: Peru thumps Uruguay in Copa America opener

MERIDA, Venezuela, June 26, 2007
Peru kicked off its Copa America campaign by beating Uruguay 3-0 in a group A match here on Tuesday.

Miguel Villanta, Juan Carlos Marino and Paolo Guerrero were on target in the Metropolitano Stadium as Peru shocked their opponents, as Uruguay were considered by many as dark horses for the prestigious tournament.

The Uruguayans, missing Alvaro Recoba after the Internazionale forward was ruled out with a muscle problem, came out with more spark but it was the Incas who struck first as defender Miguel Villanta powered home a header from Juan Carlos Marino's corner after 26 minutes to give the Peruvians a narrow 1-0 half-time lead.

Manager Oscar Tabarez brought on Diego Rodriguez and Sebastian Abreu during the interval in a bid to make Uruguay more of an attacking threat and the duo combined after 66 minutes to give Rodriguez a great chance to level but it was wasted.

Marino doubled the lead three minutes later with a beautiful long-range strike. And two minutes from the end, Uruguay were hit on the counter as they desperately searched for a way back into the contest.

Julio Cesar Uribe led the breakaway before setting up Hamburg forward Paolo Guerrero to put the result beyond any doubt.

Group A : Uruguay 0 Peru 3
Scorers:
Peru - Miguel Villalta 27, Juan Carlos Marino 69, Paolo Guerrero 89.

Halftime: 0-1.

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Group A : Venezuela 2 Bolivia 2
Scorers:
Venezuela - Giancarlo Maldonado 21, Ricardo Paez 56
Bolivia - Alejandro Cichero 39 own goal, Jean Carlos Arce 84

Halftime: 1-1

RELATED LINKS :
Copa America Betting Previews

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Argentina start as Copa America favourites.

Argentina beginning the 2007 Copa America as favourites to win the event which starts on Tuesday 26th June.

The Argentines, who lost in a penalty shootout to great rivals Brazil in the 2004 tournament, are a best priced 2.60 at VC Bet to regain the trophy.

Holders Brazil, who have won three of the last four Copa Americas, are general second favourites at 3.00 while Mexico who looked out of sorts at the CONCACAF Gold Cup are 11.00 third best at SportingOdds.

Uruguay are priced at 13.00 at Betfred for an upset while hosts Venezuela are a longshot at 21.00 at Bet365.

If you fancy picking the top scorer then the favourite is Argentina's Hernan Crespo who is 7.00 at bet365 while West Ham striker Carlos Tevez is 11.00 at bet365 and ex-Man United man Diego Forlan is 13.00 at bet365

RELATED LINK :
A Copa America preview from our insider at BetFred.
Betting Preview - 26 June 2007 - Peru v Uruguay

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