Three more countries qualified for the last-8 of the Copa America, Tuesday. Peru's 2-2 draw with Bolivia earned Julio Cesar Uribe's blanquirroja the second seed in Group-A. Venezuela emerge as group winners -- courtesy of a 0-0 draw with Uruguay. The Uruguaians, World Cup winners in 1930 and 1950, also advance to the quarter-finals as one of two 3rd-seeded clubs.
DC United striker Jaime Moreno put Bolivia into the lead after 25-minutes at Estadio Metropolitano de Merita on Tuesday afternoon. But Claudio Pizarro answered for Peru just 9-minutes later. The newly-signed Chelsea forward headed past goalkeeper Huga Suarez after connecting with a superb free-kick from Juan Carlos Marino. Bolivia went ahead again, however, through Jhasmany Campos in 1st-half stoppage-time. La Verde held to their lead through most of the second half. Pizarro, as it happened, had other ideas -- he and Marino recreating their 1st-half goal in the 85th-minute. The draw leaves Peru with 4-points in Group-A at the conclusion of the Group Phase -- good for second-place in the bracket.
Tuesday's evening contest had Venezuela and Uruguay tied together in a rather meaningless encounter. The earlier result ensured that Venezuela were guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals; while Uruguay required merely a draw to go through. With nothing to play for, nothing of note occurred through the 90-minutes. The hosts did carry much of the play, however, and narrowly missed chances through Juan Arayo, Ciancarlo Maldenado, Jose Torrealbe, and Cesar Gonzalez. The splitting of the points leaves Venezuela top Group-A with 5-points -- two better than third-place Uruguay.
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