Copa America 2011

[RoyalChicagoFC]

I can't quite believe my

Hosts running the show as anyone would expect, and they've had about 10 shots to 2 for CR, but they can't put it on target

Higuain all but pulling his hair out after belting over from 15 yards having been played in up the right

They've just opened the scoring 20 seconds into stoppage time, Kun Aguero putting it away after the 'keeper had spilled an effort from range

Ticos claiming Kun was in an offside position; I'll need to look again

1-0 HT

[Compo's Hat]

Lucky bastards Argentina, right on half time too.

Was beginning to think it was going to be one of those nights again.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Nah, the bad guys always win

Legit goal, upon review

Was Gago who'd blasted it in from range, whereupon the 'keeper spilled and Kun pounced

[Compo's Hat]

Think it took a deflection but not sure.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Sounds right now you mention it

Not a lot the 'keeper could've done with the initial effort either way, and not the first time Gago sent something goalward with real power behind it

They just showed a loop of the working over Messi got at the hands of pretty much everyone in a red shirt during the first half

[RoyalChicagoFC]

2-0 Kun again, rounding off a nice sequence with Higuain involved and Messi with the telling ball to turn him loose inside the area

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Now Di Maria, and again Messi with the vital ball

3-0 on 65'

[Compo's Hat]

Think those goals Costa Rica conceded 2nd half will cost them a place in the quarter finals on goal difference.

Was very comfortable for Argentina in the end.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Yeah they were just wayward during the first 45 and really should have had at least a couple more (LOL @ the two subs not finding a way to, in the end, walk it across the line for a fourth)

Messi the fulcrum and MotM for me --two moves ahead of the opposition all nite and one ahead of his mates for much of it, plus he took a pounding

Group C wraps up on Tuesday nite, and Uruguay need to take a point from Mexico to progress

[RoyalX]

If you have a Betfair account they are showing all the Copa games live.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Chile v. Peru 0-0 @ HT

Meh --not a lot of chances either way, nothing on target yet, one potshot at either end that could've gone anywhere, and both of the opposing bosses have opted to stash most of their regulars whose names were taken thru the first two group stage matches

Uruguay won't have the luxury in the nightcap, and Caceres will be missing from central defence after seeing yellow cards when playing against Peru and Chile

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Eurgh both sides play the final half-hour with ten men as it all kicks off when the Chileans respond to the latest of several rough challenges from behind, and they get the worst of the exchange as Beausejour gets sent off for them and Carmona is off for Peru

A stray ball from a Chile corner finds the shins of Peru's Corzo and then net a minute into stoppage time, and the Chileans win the match and the group without putting a single shot on target; Peru managed just two of their own (including one that nearly levelled scores at the death) and both sides put in 8 attempts each

Just about a fair result for all of that

[Compo's Hat]

Chile doing enough... just!

[Compo's Hat]

Well that was certainly entertaining, probably helped by Uruguay's awful finishing!

Argentina v Uruguay on Saturday night should be a cracking game, very tight call that one.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

I like the hosts to stay on the rise --Uruguay just haven't fired, and I don't see any change looming

A total of four shots between Uruguay (3) and Mexico (1), if the stats I'm looking at are to be trusted...or maybe whoever was keeping track just filed three of every four absurd Uruguay attempts under "crosses (wayward)"

So Uruguay 1-0 winners and advance as Group C runners up, and Peru in third were safely thru already and now awaiting their quarterfinal pairing

If Paraguay get anything against Venezuela in Wednesday's early Group C game, then they progress at the expense of Costa Rica

[Compo's Hat]

A total of four shots between Uruguay (3) and Mexico (1), if the stats I'm looking at are to be trusted...or maybe whoever was keeping track just filed three of every four absurd Uruguay attempts under "crosses (wayward)"

Guessing you were looking at ESPN Soccernet as well, it certainly was a whole lot more for Uruguay.

[RoyalX]

A total of four shots between Uruguay (3) and Mexico (1), if the stats I'm looking at are to be trusted...or maybe whoever was keeping track just filed three of every four absurd Uruguay attempts under "crosses (wayward)"

Guessing you were looking at ESPN Soccernet as well, it certainly was a whole lot more for Uruguay.

Soccernet's stats are rubbish quite a lot of the time tbf, especially on stuff like this.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Yep this rings much truer

Still only one shot for Mexico lol --and the Worldwide Leader seemed to get a clean count of shots taken in the early one at any rate; also they hence I named the wrong culprit on the Peru OG last nite --was in fact Carrillo and not Corzo

There seem to be one or two data hubs for this sort of thing --Sky more or less being the other, and they're not really making any effort to keep anyone informed about this competition in real time (nor are they providing match stats even hours after the fact)-- and the same set of bad information tends to turn up wherever you look

Very hopeful that Group B serves up something worth watching tonite --Ecuador haven't had a man cautioned thru two matches so can afford to be robust in the challenges as they seek the win over the holders that they've got to have in the late one

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Well that was off the hook eh --Paraguay, over three frantic minutes on the eve of the full-time whistle, going from pole position in Group C to in all likelihood being the lesser third placed side to qualify for the quarters

Venezuela got outplayed over the full ride I thought but deserved that point nonetheless with Paraguay's second being steered home by Barrios with his arm

Totally nutz --roll on Brazil-Ecuador

[Compo's Hat]

Was a superb finish, love it when a keeper comes up for a corner (not that there was many in that game) as they always aim for him. Paraguay look well below par but credit to Venezuela for their efforts this tournament, they might make the semis if they win the group!