Football United

Group A

Venezuela 1-1 Bolivia



Venezuela and Bolivia succeeded in eliminating each other Monday evening, as they played to a 1-1 draw at Mansiche stadium in Trujillo in the penultimate Group A match. Thus Colombia and Peru both advance out of Group A, with the only thing left needing to be decided which side will win the group. Bolivia finishes in third place with two points, whilst Venezuela brings up the rear with one point. The minnows still have not won in the Copa America since a victory in their first ever Copa America match. Both goals came in an even first half. Ruberth Moran sent Venezuela into the lead in the 27th minute, but Gonzalo Galindo equalized for Bolivia to keep their hopes of going to four points alive. But neither side could break through in the second half, thus dooming both countries to disappointing experiences in the 2004 Copa America.

VENEZUELA: Gilberto Angelucci; Luis Vallenilla, José Rey, Jonay Hernández, Alejandro Cichero; Ricardo Páez, Leopoldo Jimenez, Juan Arango, Andrée González (Leonel Vielma); Massimo Margiotta (Héctor González), Dickson Morán (Alexander Rondón).

BOLIVIA: Leonardo Fernández; Miguel Hoyos, Sergio Jáuregui, Lorgio Álvarez, Ronald Arana, Ronald Raldes; Limberg Gutiérrez, Limberg Pizarro (Ruben Trufiño); Miguel Mercado (Juan Carlos Arce), Joaquín Botero, Roger Suárez (Walter Flores).

GOALS: 1-0, Dickson Móran (27'); 1-1, Gonzalo Galindo (33')

Peru 2-2 Colombia


Edwin Congo

Peru fought back bravely from a two-goal deficit but could not get past Colombia in a 2-2 draw to conclude Group A on Monday night. The hosts finish a disappointing second in the group, whilst the Cafeteros wound up winners. The defending champions began to click after a tense opening twenty minutes. Edwin Congo rewarded his manager for the start with a first half goal in the 34th minute. Peruvian goalkeeper Oscar Ibanez perhaps was a bit to blame, but nonetheless the Levante striker was in perfect position to head home Elkin Murillo’s cross. Abel Aguiar then put the Cafeteros two-goals up with a strike ten minutes into the second half. But Peru struck back with two goals in a four-minute span to stun Reinaldo Rueda’s men, who had not surrendered a goal in eight Copa America matches. First Nolberto Solano beat Juan Carlos Henao with a free kick, and then the midfielder had a hand in Flavio Maestri’s equalizer. Solano served a ball into the area, which Andres Mendoza knocked down for Maestri. The Vitoria forward headed home to send Trujillo into hysterics. From there the Peruvian whirlwind appeared to pick up momentum as Solano and Roberto Palacios owned the Colombian midfield, trying to will their side to victory and the Group A title. But luckily for Colombia the storm passed as quickly as it came when Ciurlizza replaced the sensational Solano in the Peruvian midfield with just a few minutes left. Colombia advances as the top team out of Group A, whereas hosts Peru get a quarterfinal date with one of the teams from the group of death.

PERU: Oscar Ibañez; Santiago Acasiete, Miguel Rebosio (Jorge Soto), Walter Vílchez, Guillermo Salas; Nolberto Solano (Marko Ciurlizza), Juan Jayo, Roberto Palacios; Flavio Maestri (Pedro Garcia), Andrés Mendoza, Jefferson Farfán.

COLOMBIA: Juan Henao; Arley Rodríguez (Andrés González), Gustavo Victoria, Gonzalo Martínez, Andrés Orozco; Oscar Asprilla, Néider Morantes (David Ferreira), Jhon Viáfara, Abel Aguilar; Elkin Amor, Edwin Congo (Edixon Perea).

GOALS: 0-1, Edwin Congo (33'); 0-2, Abel Aguilar (53'); 1-2, Norberto Solano (58'); 2-2, Flavio Maestri (60')

GROUP A FINAL STANDINGS

Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Colombia 3 7
2. Peru 3 5
3. Bolivia 3 2
4. Venezuela 3 1

Source: goal.com, conmebol.com