There are only six games before Copa América’s quarterfinals, and only eight teams will survive to live it. The rest will have to watch the rest of the tournament on the TV at home.
The Soldier Field has seen its count of massacres this tournament, and yesterday, it wasn’t the exception. Argentina decimated the selection from Panama with a finishing score of 5-0.
The first half of the game, everything was awkward. The Albiceleste opened the score fast as Nicolás Otamendi scored the first goal of the match in minute 7, but the rest of the first half, the Argentinian team was very slow and lost a lot of goal opportunities. However, every team needs a champion, and everybody knows who the Argentinian champion is. The “man from another planet”, Lionel Messi, who joined the fray in the second half, and showed why the Albiceleste is the number one of the world ranking.
He scored three times in the second half at minutes 68, 79 and 87 for a 4 – 0 score, and Sergio “Kun” Agüero scored at minute 90 finishing the match 5 to 0 for the team from Buenos Aires. With the result, Argentina already classifies, and Coach Gerardo Martino is probably going to use the last game against Bolivia to let his initials rest. Panama is not yet out of the tournament, bit it is forced to win against Chile the last day of Copa América’s first phase.
The same day, Chile bested Bolivia 2 – 0. The man of the match, Arturo Vidal, scored both points for the Chilean selection in a beautiful game that finished with a very controversial decision by the arbiters. Vidal made his first goal at the beginning of the second half with a perfect service in the goal keeper’s area, but Bolivia was making things tough for one Copa América’s favorites. In fact, Jhasmani Campos evens the score at minute 61 with a spectacular free crossed shot that pierced the defense and found the net. However, in the extra time, Chile was granted a penalty after a very controversial hand. The executor was Vidal, and the score, 2 – 1, leaves Bolivia out. Chile has struggled this tournament, and the selection has meet Panama on the last day of the Copa for a game to the death.
USA vs. Panama
The United States’ eleven stormed the field today and defeated Paraguay by “the minimum”, 1 – 0. The only goal was made by the man of the match, Clint Dempsey that made an incredible game with four stole balls and a lot of presence in the field. Dempsey entered the area and received “the pass of death” to correctly execute a right leg shot that went under a defense and the keeper ending deep into the net. However, the North American selection struggled to defend their small advantage after Yedlin got himself expelled. Deandre Yedlin performed not one, but two unnecessarily great slides and was given two yellow cards. The second half of the game was pretty much the United States defending themselves. The final score leaves Paraguay out, and “The Americans” with a ticket to quarterfinals.
As of June 11, The United States, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina are already in the next phase. The new classifiers group counts with the surprising presence of Venezuela who managed two back to back victories in a tight group.
In group B things are complicated. Brazil and Peru both have 4 points at the top of the table, and Ecuador has 2 points. Tomorrow, Brazil and Peru will play for the pass to quarterfinals at the Gillette Stadium, but the second game between Haiti and Ecuador is crucial. The scenarios are many.
If there are no draws, the winner between La Canarinha and Peru would immediately classify with 7 points, and in that case, if Ecuador defeats Haiti, it would pass to the next stage with 5 points. However, if Brazil and Peru draw and Ecuador wins, that would leave three teams with 5 points. A lot can happen, and that is the beauty of soccer. Tomorrow group B decides who is in and out of Copa América Centenario.
Source: Copa América Centenario