Canada beats Venezuela in penalty shootout, advances to Copa America semifinals
CBC
Ismael Kone scored in the sixth round of the shootout after a third save by Maxime Crepeau and Canada advanced to the semifinals of its first Copa America with a victory over Venezuela on Friday night.
The Canadians won 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw in the quarterfinals, keeping Venezuela from advancing to the Copa America semifinals for the first time since 2011.
Jacob Shaffelburg scored in the 13th minute for Canada before Salomon Rondon got the equalizer in the 64th minute for Venezuela.
Each team scored three times in the five rounds of the shootout, forcing the extra session.
After Canada's Maxime Crepeau silenced the pro-Venezuelan crowd of 51,080 at the home of the Dallas Cowboys by stopping Jhonder Cadiz, Kone eased his shot past Rafael Romo for the win.
With 54th-ranked Venezuela trailing 1-0, Jon Aramburu sent a long pass from his own penalty box, leaving just Rondon and Moise Bombito battling for the loose ball near midfield.
Just as Rondon gained possession, Crepeau realized he was too far out and sprinted toward his net. It was too late. Rondon's lofted shot over the scrambling Crepeau bounced 2 yards in front of the net and in.
The Canadians were just the fourth team to advance out of Copa America group play after scoring one goal. It didn't take long for them to match that in their first elimination game.
Shaffelburg scored on an assist from Jonathan David after David scored the previous goal in a 1-0 victory over Peru on a helper from Shaffelburg, who right-footed a pass from David between the right post and Rafael Romo.
After scoring, Schaffelburg held over his head the No. 17 jersey of Tajon Buchanan, who broke the tibia in his lower left leg in practice three days before the meeting with Venezuela.
Rondon had two early chances on headers turned away, and it wasn't long after his goal that Shaffelburg took another dangerous shot from just inside the penalty box that Romo deflected away.
Shaffelburg got a yellow card in the 36th minute for trying to return too quickly after going to the sideline when he was injured on a tackle.
He limped to the sideline and tried to come back before a free kick by Venezuela in Canada's defensive end. He was sent back off, and Canada played down a man briefly before clearing the ball to midfield, allowing for his return.
