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Copa America: David Ospina leads Colombia past Peru to Chicago semifinal

Big game for the (for some) undersized Colombian 'keeper.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

David Ospina might be on the outs at Arsenal, but he kept his national team in Copa America Centenario with two saves that turned this match Colombia's way.

Though the preceding 90 minutes or so were not without incident, Ospina's injury-time save kept Los Cafeteros from slumping out of the tournament at the quarterfinal's last gasp.

Not bad for a man who is a terrible cricketer.

Peru matched Colombia kick for kick through the first two rounds of penalties. Then Miguel Trauco stepped up to the spot, sent Ospina the wrong way - but saw the Colombian 'keeper throw up a leg to block the shot. Sebastien Perez gave Los Cafeteros a 4-2 advantage in the shootout, and the pressure was too much for Peru's Christian Cueva - he wafted his shot over the bar.

Ospina was named man of the match. Colombia moves on to the semifinals - and awaits the winner of Saturday's tussle between Chile and Mexico.

The pattern of the game - Colombia had the better of it, but couldn't make possession or chances count and Peru nearly walked away with a win at the death - will give hope to whichever team faces Los Cafeteros in the semifinal in Chicago on June 22.

Colombia has one of the most talented squads in this tournament, but it left a lot of that talent on the bench for the loss against Costa Rica in the group stage, and the big names in the team didn't quite make their chances count against Peru. Those games, and the slightly nervy finish to the group stage win over Paraguay, leaves the impression that Colombia is a team that will give its opponents a chance in this tournament. None of those chances have stuck just yet, but either Chile or Mexico will not be overawed at facing the underwhelming favorite to return to East Rutherford for the Copa America final.