Argentina advance to Copa America semi-finals as David Ospina keeps Messi and Co at bay

Argentina rush to celebrate with Carlos Tevez after his penalty sealed their passage into the Copa America semi-finals. Juan Carlos Cardenas / EPA June 26, 2015

Carlos Tevez fired Argentina into the semi-finals of the Copa America, scoring the decisive spot-kick as the tournament favourites defeated Colombia 5-4 in a penalty shootout.

Tevez, who missed the crucial penalty when Argentina went out in a shootout at the 2011 tournament, rammed homed the winning spot-kick after Colombia’s Jeison Murillo had shot over the bar.

Tevez, 31, came on as a second-half substitute, and provided the dramatic final twist to a shootout which saw Lucas Biglia and Marcos Rojo both miss kicks for Argentina that would have sealed victory after regulation time finished locked at 0-0.

Argentina’s win puts them into a semi-final against the winner of Saturday’s quarter-final between Brazil and Paraguay.

Tevez said his contribution to victory was sweet.

“In football there’s always a second chance,” said Tevez, who earlier in the day sealed a move back to boyhood club Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires.

“But tonight is not about me, it’s about my teammates. My teammates won this match and I’m very proud of them, and I’m proud to be part of this squad.”

MORE FROM COPA AMERICA

Tevez, who spent three years frozen out of Argentina’s national team before returning after the 2014 World Cup, said he was happy with his non-starting role.

“I enjoy playing, the team is playing well and I just have to wait for my chance,” he said.

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino said he omitted Tevez from his list of five designated penalty takers for the shootout to ease pressure on the former Manchester City striker.

“I didn’t put Tevez among the top five because the last time he shot, Argentina went out. We wanted to avoid that,” Martino said.

Defeat was cruel on Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina, who had almost single-handedly kept his side in the contest with a series of superb saves during 90 minutes to frustrate the tournament favourites.

Argentina had earlier dominated a one-sided first half which at times threatened to spiral out of control with both sides committing a series of niggling fouls that went unpunished by Mexican referee Roberto Garcia.

Argentina midfielder Javier Pastore was the first to threaten, touching on a low cross from Angel Di Maria that was cleared at the near post by the Colombian cover after only seven minutes.

Three minutes later, captain Lionel Messi swept forward from halfway and released Di Maria in space only for the Manchester United striker to shoot tamely at Ospina.

Colombia’s James Rodriguez became the first of six players to receive a caution in the opening 45 minutes when he was booked for dissent.

By half time three more Colombians — Santiago Arias, Alexander Mejia and Juan Cuadrado — had earned yellow cards.

For Argentina, both Javier Mascherano and Sergio Aguero were booked.

The highlight of the half was a double save by Ospina in the 26th minute.

Ospina, whose future at Arsenal is now uncertain following the club’s imminent signing of Petr Cech, reminded club manager Arsene Wenger of his ability by thwarting Aguero and Messi in quick succession.

A low cross from the right from Pastore picked out Aguero whose shot was blocked by Ospina’s legs.

Messi seemed certain to score from the rebound as the ball looped into his path but Ospina somehow recovered in time to parry his header over the bar.

Ospina saved Colombia again with a diving save to tip Nicolas Otamendi’s shot onto the post in the 80th minute.

Ospina was unable to reproduce his heroics in the shootout as Messi, Ezequiel Garay, Ever Banega, Ezequiel Lavezzi all drilled in their first four penalties.

Luis Muriel’s miss for Colombia gave Biglia the chance to clinch it but the Lazio defender shot wide.

The next three penalties were missed, leaving Tevez to rifle in the winner.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NatSportUAE