Peru pip Uruguay on penalties to reach semi-finals
Quarter-final
Uruguay 0-0 Peru (Peru win 5-4 on penalties)
Luis Suarez missed his spot-kick as Uruguay suffered a 5-4 penalty shoot-out defeat to Peru in the Copa America quarter-finals following a 0-0 draw in Salvador.
Edinson Cavani squandered a glorious chance midway through the first half, while Diego Godin was guilty of similar profligacy after the interval as Peru hardly tested their opponents at the other end.
Uruguay, who also had a goal disallowed in the first half, twice fell foul of tight offside decisions after Godin’s miss – both Cavani and Suarez denied by the flag and subsequent VAR checks.
And Uruguay’s misfortune continued in the shoot-out – Pedro Gallese making a fantastic save from Suarez’s opening penalty, with Edison Flores later stepping up to clinch Peru’s place in the last four, where defending champions Chile await.
Suarez’s deflected shot created a superb opportunity for his strike partner in the 23rd minute, but Cavani somehow blazed over an open goal from six yards out.
Giorgian de Arrascaeta then thought he had put Uruguay ahead, only for his strike to be disallowed for offside.
Godin lashed wildly over from close range as Uruguay kept up the pressure – the offside flag then coming to Peru’s rescue again when Cavani’s goal was ruled out just before the hour.
Uruguay were denied for a third time when Suarez’s tap-in was chalked off 12 minutes later, as penalties were required for the third time in four quarter-final ties.
And despite failing to test Fernando Muslera at all during the match, 2015 semi-finalists Peru made their good luck count, converting five excellent spot-kicks to secure progression after Suarez had seen his effort brilliantly saved by Gallese.
