Magphoto/Traffic Sports Marketing Alex celebrates the goal that qualified Brazil to the final of Copa America

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Despite starting the game with a defensive system, Uruguay took the early initiative and created the first goal-scoring opportunities. With 5 minutes on the clock, Jorge Fossati´s team had struck twice at goal, earning four corner-kicks. In the opening minute, Dario Silva found himself face to face with Julio Cesar, who made a huge save. On 5 minutes, Brazil hit back on the counter. Kleberson finding Adriano, who unleashed a powerdriver. Uruguayan keeper parried his shot and Kleberson tried to capitalize on the rebound. Tense on the pitch, the Brazilian players couldn´t repeat the offensive football displayed in the quarterfinals, when they hammered Mexico. On 12 minutes, Uruguay almost broke the deadlock. After a Luisão blunder, who headed the ball poorly, Dario Silva pounced on the loose ball in the 6-year box with an empty net in front of him, but the striker managed to miss the easiest of chances, striking the ball onto the crossbar. Ten minutes later, the Celeste finally found the net. Javier Delgado with the set-play and Marcelo Sosa heading home, helped by keeper Julio Cesar´s howler. In the lead, the Uruguayans were all backs to the wall and started playing on the counter. Brazil took advantage to find their form. But they only managed to threaten Viera´s goal in the last minute, when Edu tried to lob the Uruguayan keeper.

After the break, Brazil returned a totally different outfit. With more determination, they piled pressure on Uruguay and leveled the scores early on. In the first minute, Luis Fabiano´s cross was tapped in by striker Adriano, who scored his sixth in this Copa América. A minute later, the same Adriano almost reversed the score with a shot near the far post. Inspirational Adriano tried his luck again, on 49 minutes, and came close. Brazil began to set the pace in the second half. On 55 minutes, Alex struck from the edge of the box, but was denied by Viera. Realizing that his team had lost momentum, coach Jorge Fossati replaced Carlos Bueno for Forlan. The match became more even, but less technical. Both sides stopped taking chances in attack and only attempted shot from long-range, like Marcelo Sosa, on 65 minutes; Adriano, on 77 minutes, and Javier Delgado, on 79 minutes. Brazil nearly clinched victory in the dying minute, when Julio Batista forced Viera to a difficult save. The match ended 1-all, bringing on the penalty shootout.

Brazil and Uruguay converted 3 spot-kicks each. On Uruguay´s fourth attempt, keeper Julio Cesar denied Vicente Sanchez, giving Brazil the edge. In Brazil´s last penalty-kick, Alex duly converted, guaranteeing Brazil´s place in the final of Copa América.

Technical Info

Uruguay 1 (3) x 1 (5) Brazil

Goals: Marcelo Sosa 22/1; Adriano 1/2

Penalty Shootout: Uruguay 3 (Darío Silva, Sebastián Viera and Omar Pouso; Vicente Sánchez missed) x Brazil 5 (Luisão, Luís Fabiano, Adriano, Renato and Alex)

Brazil: Júlio César, Maicon, Luisão, Juan e Gustavo Nery; Renato, Kléberson (Diego 30/2), Edu (Julio Baptista 30/2) and Alex; Luis Fabiano and Adriano. Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira

Uruguay: Sebastián Vieira, Joe Bizera, Paolo Montero and Darío Rodríguez; Carlos Diogo, Marcelo Sosa, Javier Delgado, Cristián Rodríguez (Vicente Sánchez 24/2) and Diego Pérez (Omar Pouso 35/2); Carlos Bueno (Diego Forlán 16/2) and Darío Silva. Coach: Jorge Fossati

Referee: Marco Rodríguez (MEX)
Assistant Referees: Nelson Cano (PAR) and Fredy Villty (BOL)
Yellow Cards: Javier Delgado and Julio Baptista
Venue: Nacional Stadium, Lima (PER)