Football: Argentina let Brazil off with penalty miss

BRAZIL BEAT Argentina 2-1 in their Copa America quarter-final yesterday after their bitter opponents missed yet another penalty.

Argentina's captain, Roberto Ayala, saw his kick saved by Brazil's goalkeeper Dida in the 78th minute, throwing away a golden chance to level the score at 2-2. Ayala took the kick after striker Martin Palermo, the first choice penalty taker, missed three spot kicks in the first-round match against Colombia.

Ronaldo scored the winner early in the second half with his fourth goal of the tournament as Brazil came from behind to beat their bitter rivals.

Juan Pablo Sorin had given Argentina an early lead with Rivaldo equalising from a free-kick before half-time.

The veteran striker Ivan Zamorano sent Chile into the semi-finals, scoring a solo goal to give them a shock 3-2 victory over Colombia.

Zamorano's goal came after defender Pedro Reyes had twice headed Chile back on level terms after goals by Jorge Bolano and Victor Bonilla had put Colombia ahead.

Both of Saturday's quarter-finals in Asuncion produced surprises. Mexico, shorn of two players who failed drug tests and one who was suspended, held their own against Peru in a barrage of first-half goals and levelled the score two minutes from time to force penalties. Mexico, who played without Raul Lara and Paulo Cesar Chavez, who failed drug tests last week, and their key attacker, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, won the shoot-out and now face Brazil in the semi-final. The Mexican federation is appealing against the bans on Lara and Chavez.

The hosts, Paraguay, seemed to be in control against Uruguay in the second match of the double-header at the Defenders of the Chaco stadium. taking the lead after 15 minutes through Miguel Benitez. However, they then began to look edgy and conceded an equaliser to Marcelo Zayaleta in the 65th minute.

With no extra time played before the penalty shoot-out, their end came, to the disappointment of the vast home contingent in the 43,000-crowd, when Benitez missed their fourth penalty in the shoot-out.