Tevez Shoots Argentina past Colombia

Redemption comes in the strangest forms they say. Four years ago, Carlos Tevez missed the decisive kick in the penalty shootout as Argentina crashed out of the Copa America to Uruguay. That miss, combined with his disgruntled display, meant it took him almost four years to regain his place in the Argentina team. Many questioned Gerardo Martino’s decision to recall him in March, but he and all of Argentina must be delighted that he did. Lucas Biglia and Marcos Rojo had both missed penalties with a chance to win the shootout, but when Tevez stepped up to take the fourteenth kick, he converted to send Argentina through to the semifinal.

Argentina celebrates after Carlos Tevez converted the winning penalty to eliminate Colombia 5-4 on penalties and seal a place in the Copa America semifinals.

Argentina must have gone into the shootout mystified that it had not already won and won comfortably. It had dominated the game for long spells, but it somehow failed to take advantage and settled for a 0-0 draw after extra time.

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While David Ospina, the Colombia goalkeeper, deserved much of the credit after making two stunning saves, and there was misfortune, there had also to be questions about its incisiveness. This, after all, was the fourth game in a row in which Argentina struggled to turn domination into goals. Somehow that illustrious forward line of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria did not quite click.
Colombia, at least, had taken action against its sluggishness. Jose Pekerman had defended Falcao throughout the tournament, but finally, he had to accept the inevitable: in this form, the acceleration of old vanished, his place as a starter simply could not be justified any longer. It’s not just that Falcao is out of sorts players can snap out of that,  but he was actively detrimental to the team from a tactical point of view.