In a gripping encounter that culminated in a dramatic penalty shootout, Uruguay advanced to the Copa America semi-finals with a 4-2 victory over Brazil on penalties. The match, held on Saturday, ended 0-0 after regular time despite featuring a tournament-high 41 fouls and just four shots on goal. Manuel Ugarte scored the decisive penalty, sending Uruguay through to face Colombia in the semi-finals.

The game was a hard-fought battle, characterized by intense physicality and defensive prowess from both teams. The most controversial moment came in the 74th minute when Uruguay’s Nahitan Nandez received a red card for a dangerous tackle on Brazil’s Rodrygo, leaving Uruguay to play with ten men for the remainder of the match. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Uruguay held their ground, pushing the match to penalties.

In the shootout, Uruguay quickly gained the upper hand, leading 3-1 after three rounds. Key contributions came from goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, who saved Eder Militao’s penalty, and from Brazil’s Douglas Luiz, who hit the post. Although Brazil’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker kept his team’s hopes alive by saving Jose Maria Gimenez’s shot in the fourth round, it was Manuel Ugarte who sealed the victory with a confident strike.

Earlier on Saturday, Colombia secured their place in the semi-finals with a commanding 5-0 win over Panama. The Colombian side extended their unbeaten streak to 27 matches with an impressive performance. James Rodriguez was instrumental, scoring one goal and assisting two others. Striker Jhon Cordoba opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a powerful header from a corner. Rodriguez then doubled the lead with a penalty after Jhon Arias was fouled by Panama’s goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.

Luis Diaz added a third goal before halftime, lobbing Mosquera after a quick free kick from Rodriguez. In the second half, Colombia controlled the pace of the game, but still managed to add a fourth goal in the 70th minute through Richard Rios’ long-range effort. In stoppage time, substitute Miguel Borja converted a penalty after Jose Cordoba fouled Santiago Arias, capping off the comprehensive win.

Uruguay will now prepare to face Colombia in the semi-finals on Wednesday in Charlotte, while defending champions Argentina will take on Canada in the other semi-final on Tuesday in New Jersey. The stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the Copa America, with teams battling for the prestigious title.

The remaining matches promise to deliver more thrilling football as the competition intensifies. Fans are eagerly anticipating the semi-finals, where the best teams in South America will vie for a place in the final. Uruguay’s resilience and Colombia’s dominance are sure to make for a captivating showdown.