Argentina and Mexico to meet in Copa semis
Hodgson confirms Mascherano keen on leaving Liverpool
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Monday, 09, Jul 2007 09:05
Argentina and Mexico set up a mouth-watering Copa America semi-final after both recorded convincing quarter-final wins over Peru and Paraguay.
The Central Americans waltzed past England's group opponents in last summer's World Cup, Paraguay, winning 6-0.
Paraguay had goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla sent-off after only three minutes when he seemingly brought down Nery Castillo in the area – the forward then picked himself up to convert the penalty.
A further first-half strike from Castillo and another from Gerardo Torrado gave Mexico a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break, before a quiet second half came alive 15 minutes from the end.
Paraguay's players were visibly tired from being a man down and when Fernando Arce made it 4-0 on 78 minutes, the match was effectively over.
Another penalty from Cuauhtemoc Blanco three minutes from time was followed by an injury-time header by Omar Bravo to complete the rout.
In the second quarter-final, Argentina found Peru to be little more of an obstacle to their Copa hopes.
Despite being kept at bay during the first 45 minutes, Boca Juniors' on-loan midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme inspired the World Cup quarter-finalists to a convincing win.
Riquelme scored twice and also set one up for Lionel Messi. Liverpool man Javier Mascherano also grabbed his second goal in two games – receiving a pass from Carlos Tevez to slot home.
The other Copa semi-final sees Brazil face Uruguay, with the winners due to face Argentina or Mexico in the showpiece final in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on Sunday.