Uruguay beat Brazil on penalties to reach semi-finals

Uruguay beat Brazil 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Saturday after a bruising 0-0 draw to march into the semifinals of the Copa America.

Sergio Rochet saved Brazil’s first penalty in the shootout from Eder Militao while his teammate Douglas Luiz hit the post. Brazil keeper Alisson Becker denied Jose Gimenez but Manuel Ugarte buried the decisive spot kick as Uruguay advanced.

In a bruising encounter with 41 fouls from both teams, Uruguay’s Darwin Nunez had the best chance when he missed a close-range header, while Brazil skipper Raphinha saw his effort on a counter-attack thwarted by goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.

Uruguay was down to 10 men in the second half when Nahitan Nandez was sent off in the 74th minute following a VAR review for a crunching tackle on Rodrygo, but Brazil could not make the advantage count as Uruguay shut shop to take the match to penalties.

Uruguay will face Colombia in Charlotte, North Carolina, in their semi-final on Wednesday.

The other semi-final, in New Jersey on Tuesday, sees world champions Argentina face surprise package Canada.