The Copa America is over for host Argentina, and its drought in major championships will now extend past 20 years. The hosts' Copa quest ended in a dramatic penalty-shootout loss to neighbor Uruguay in the quarterfinals Saturday, disappointing the fans watching the match in Santa Fe and millions more countrywide hoping to witness the national team win its first major title since 1993. The game ended 1-1 after extra time and Uruguay won 5-4 on penalties after Carlos Tevez had his shot saved. Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera made several key saves throughout the match. “Things didn't go the way we wanted and we will have to make some corrections in the future,” Argentina coach Sergio Batista said. Messi, still without a goal for Argentina in a competitive match since March 2009, had dreamt of inspiring Argentina to a major title before an assault on the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. Uruguay joined Peru as the first two teams in the final four of the South American competition. Peru needed two extra-time goals to get past Colombia 2-0 in Cordoba. The Colombians, title-favorites after winning Group A ahead of Argentina, missed a 65th-minute penalty taken by Radamel Falcao and twice were denied by the woodwork in the final minutes. “We've accomplished our goal, which was to at least do as well as we did in the last Copa America,” said Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, refering to the team's semifinal appearance in 2007. Uruguay had a surprise appearance in the semifinals of last year's World Cup, too, when it lost to the Netherlands. The Copa America winner will automatically earn a spot in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil. Argentina recovered after allowing an early goal, but it couldn't capitalize on its chances in a match filled with opportunities for both sides. Diego Perez gave Uruguay a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute, but Gonzalo Higuain equalized for the host in the 18th. Both teams finished the tense match a man down. Perez was red-carded in the 39th and Argentina's Javier Mascherano in the 87th. In Cordoba, Colombia dominated most of the match against Peru but couldn't take advantage of its scoring opportunities. FC Porto striker Falcao had the greatest chance with the penalty, but sent a low kick wide off the goal on the left. “It came down to scoring. We couldn't capitalize,” Colombia coach Hernan Dario Gomez said. Peru came through in extra time, scoring through substitute midfielder Carlos Lobaton in the 101st and forward Juan Manuel Vargas in the 111th. Peru is through to the Copa America semifinals for the first time since 1997, when it finished fourth. It won the second of its two titles in 1975. Colombia was trying to win it for the first time since 2001, when it hosted the tournament.
