The semi-finals. Chile – Colombia. Tough match, ending scoreless. Chile prevailed in extra time.
Colombia had chances to score first, but Chile quickly responded.
The game was fairly equal, though.
Seemingly, Chile had more opportunities and may be Valderama did not shine too much, but Colombia missed better scoring chances and just for that perhaps had reasons to be sorrier at the final whistle. In overtime drama unfolded in the unpredictable football way. Colombia got a penalty in the 103rd minute and Bernardo Redin scored it – it looked just result, given the great chances Colombia missed during regular time. A few minutes later Rene Higuita turned around the table, making two big mistakes in the 106th minute and in the 108th minute. Fernando Astengo and Jaime Vera scored for Chile and than Hiquita perhaps killed Colombian last chances with long solo attack, started back in his penalty area and never reaching the Chilean penalty area – attractive and entirely useless effort, born from frustration. It was a pattern of the flamboyant goalkeeper, a very costly pattern. Chile won and reached the final.
Uruguay. As Copa America holders, they entered the tournament only at the semi-finals and it was against the 1986 World Champions Argentina. The South American classic derby.
1- Jorge Fernando Seré Dulcini (Danubio Futbol Club Montevideo)
2- Gonzalo Lizardo Díaz Cúneo (Montevideo Wanderers Football Club)
3- Nelson Daniel Gutiérrez Luongo (Club Atlético River Plate- Buenos Aires / Argentina)
4- Obdulio Eduardo Trasante (Club Atlético Peñarol Montevideo)
5- José Luis Pintos Saldaña (Club Nacional de Football Montevideo)
6- José Enrique Peña (Montevideo Wanderers Football Club)
7- Antonio Alzamendi Casas (Club Atlético River Plate- Buenos Aires / Argentina)
8- Gustavo Matosas Paidón (Club Atlético Peñarol Montevideo)
9 Enrique Raúl Baez (Montevideo Wanderers Football Club)
10- Enzo Françescoli Uriarte (Racing Club de Paris / France)
11- Ruben Sosa Ardaiz (Real Zaragoza / Spain)
12- Eduardo Pereira Martinez (Club Atlético Peñarol Montevideo)
13- Oscar Aguirregaray (Club Atletico Defensor Montevideo)
14- Alfonso Enrique Domínguez Maidana (Club Atlético Peñarol Montevideo)
15- José Batlle Perdomo Texeira (Club Atlético Peñarol Montevideo)
16- Pablo Javier Bengoechea Dutra (Montevideo Wanderers Football Club)
17- Erardo Coccaro (Club Atletico Progreso Montevideo)
18- Mauricio Silvera (Club Nacional de Football Montevideo)
19- Walter Pelletti (Montevideo Wanderers Football Club)
20- Gustavo Dalto (Danubio Futbol Club Montevideo)
21-Eduardo Da Silva Diaz (Club Atlético Peñarol Montevideo)
22- Héctor Tuja (Club Atletico Defensor Montevideo)
Coach: Roberto Fleitas
As reigning South American champions, Uruguay entered the tournament directly at the semi-finals. After the 1986 World Cup Uruguay was going through complete renewal of its team – new coach, new players. Very few of the World Cup squad, which was based on the team winning Copa America in 1983 remained. The mood was not good – Antonio Alzamenfi, one of the few survivors, recalled heavy atmosphere surrounding the team: severe criticism of the team, mostly based on the 1986 World Cup performance and extending to the new team, seen as inferior to the previous one. At the last test before going to Buenos Aires, in which Uruguay played against Argentinos Juniors, the team was loudly booed. It looked like that not only the people were not behind the national team, but actually wanted it to fail. There was also a sense that the general public was more interested in the clubs than in the national team. But Alzamendi was quick to add that the roster was very much together, young players looking up and listening to the few old stars and the moral was high despite criticism. Playing against Argentina boosted moral, as it always did. It was curious situation – as much as the new Uruguayan team was criticized, it was also expected to win; as much as the fans were indifferent, even hostile, they were going to support the team and real would come only if the team lost. To lose was terrible never mind that objectively speaking Argentina hosted the game, her team pretty much intact, and the Uruguayan one at best just starting a rebuilding process. Alzamendi pointed out exactly that the Uruguayan character was such and playing against Argentina was mobilizing force and ‘real players’ will come out against the arch-enemy. In purely sporting matters, Alzamendi and his teammates knew that Argentina was missing half of the regular team, which won the World Cup, Maradona was playing with injury and that of other players were tired after their grueling European season.
Naturally, the semi-final Argentina – Uruguay was the biggest event of the 1987 Copa America. Estadio Monumental was full to the brim – 75 000 attended: not just the most attended at the tournament, but there was no other game coming even remotely close. The final, for example, attracted 55 000 people less!
It was dramatic clash, but was it any good is hard to tell now. Such derbies are tough always.
Certainly there was no mercy, but was it an ugly game? No cards were shown, which tells nothing – it was the 1980s football, short of murder no cards were ever given.
Maradona was denied scoring opportunities even from free kicks.
And if photos suggest Argentine superiority to the points of scoring a goal here, it was not that – with time, Uruguay got the upper hand – at least according to Alzamendi, who counted about 9 Uruguayan better scoring positions. Himself he scored one of those in the 43rd minute. A goal Argentina was unable to return. Argentina was out and no matter what Bilardo was saying well before Copa America started, the result was taken badly – losing to the arch-enemy at home? There is no excuse! Uruguay triumphed and the mood changed instantly as well: a new, inexperienced team just eliminated reigning World champions at their own home, Maradona and all! Following what happened on the pitch – mostly ugly tackles and bloody fouls – the public went into fighting on the stands.