09.07.2007 11:01
Marquez and Messi set for semi final clash
www.fcbarcelona.cat
Rafa Márquez and Leo Messi will meet in the semi finals of the Copa America after Mexico and Argentina cruised through their quarterfinals, beating Paraguay and Peru 6-0 and 4-0 respectively.
Mexico’s win over Paraguay was on the cards almost right from the start when the Paraguayans
lost keeper Bobadillo to a red card after just 2 minutes for bringing down Castillo in the box. The
striker took the penalty himself and Mexico were one up and a man to the good –a situation
they exploited to the full scoring twice more before half time through Torrado (min 26) and
Castillo again on 38 minutes. Rafa Marquez played for the full 90 minutes and saw his team score
three more time sin the second half with goals from Fernando Arce, another penalty, this time
converted by Cuauhtémoc Blanco, and Omar Bravo.
Argentina too
Argentina also brushed aside their opponents to set up a semi-final between the two most
attractive teams of the tournament so far, when they crushed Peru 4-0, mainly thanks to a sparkling
second half performance after a goalless first 45 minutes.
Ex-Barca man Juan Román Riquelme opened the scoring on 47 minutes, then on 61 minutes, Leo
Messi scored his first goal of the competition, rounding of a good team move. Mascherano and
Riquelme with his second rounded of an impressive second half attacking performance to ensure a
Marquez-Messi match on Wednesday night.