Argentina oust Colombia to reach final

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July 21, 2004 10:28 IST

Forward Carlos Tevez scored from a free kick for the second game in a row as Argentina swept aside defending champions Colombia 3-0 in their Copa America football semi-final on Tuesday.

Luis Gonzalez claimed the second goal early in the second half to earn Argentina a place in Sunday's final against either Brazil or Uruguay, who meet in the same stadium on Wednesday.

Juan Pablo Sorin headed the third with ten minutes remaining.

Tevez, who scored the winner against Peru with an exquisite free kick just three minutes after coming on as a substitute in Saturday's quarter-final, was on target against Argentina in the 33rd minute.

After being rewarded with a place in the starting line-up, the 20-year-old Boca Juniors player curled a 25-metre effort around the Colombia wall and his shot bounced once before entering the goal.

The opener had been in the making from the start as Argentina dominated the first half with inspired performances from both Tevez and Cesar Delgado.

Colombia did not have an answer to Delgado's darting runs down the right and Argentina created several chances before Tevez's goal.

Tevez and Juan Pablo Sorin were both close with shots from the edge of the area and Cristian Gonzalez was denied in the 24th minute when his lob was headed off the line from under the crossbar by Andres Gonzalez.

After Tevez's goal, Colombia goalkeeper Juan Carlos Henao twice denied Argentina a second goal before halftime as he blocked shots from Luciano Figueroa and Delgado.

But Argentina needed only five minutes of the second to increase their lead.

Striker Luciano Figueroa broke down the left, pulled the ball back, the Colombia defence failed to cut the ball out and Gonzalez stroked the ball into the goal for his second goal of the tournament.

Argentina cruised through the remaining 40 minutes against a hugely disappointing Colombia, who never looked like getting back into the game, and Sorin completed the scoring with a diving header from a Mauro Rosales free kick.

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