05 July 2007

Brazil and Chile have qualified for the quarter-final round of the Copa America. They join Venezuela, Uruguay, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and Paraguay in the last-8 of the competition. They are also set to go head-to-head on Sunday, 07 July, in the first knock-out round at Puerto La Cruz. Hosts Venezuela will face Uruguay in San Cristobal in Sunday's early match. Mexico await the loser of today's Group-C tilt between Argentina and Paraguay. The winner will be tied to Peru on Monday, 08 July, in Barquistimeto.

Chile advanced into the last-8 by virtue of a 0-0 draw with Group-B winners Mexico. In an identical scenario to the previous day's snoozer between Venezuela and Uruguay, Mexico had already qualified for the quarter-final stage and Chile required only a single point. The result was a rather uneventful 90-minutes. Still, Chile looked to more interested side throughout the proceedings. Carlos Villaneuva flubbed a clear opportunity in front of the Mexican goal while Juan Larca and Humberto Suazo also tested goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Mexico appeared reluctant to expend unnecessary energy -- having already defeated both Ecuador and Brazil.

Robinho's successful conversion on a questionable penalty earned Brazil a 1-0 win over Ecuador and a place in the last-8. Argentinean referee Sergio Pezzotto seemed to indicate that the Real Madrid forward had taken a dive before motioning to the spot. Carlos Tenorio was denied a similar appeal for penalty in the latter stages of the second half and was shown a yellow-card for simulation, to boot. Robinho tumbled over defender Giovanny Espinoza in the 54th-minute before scoring moments later. He has bagged 4-goals in the competition and is Brazil's only marksman thus far. Dunga's Selecao have looked nothing like the defending champions which won the tournament in 2004. They will have their hands full with Chile on Sunday.