• Submitted by: manso
• Sports
• 07 / 21 / 2011

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By: Osmany González Tocabens.  11:12La Plata, Argentina, Jul 21 (Prensa Latina) Paraguay had a closed victory over Venezuela on Thursday in the second semifinal of the 2011 Copa America tournament, in a game decided with 5-3 in penalties.

Once again Paraguayan goalkeeper Justo Villar led his team to victory after stopping one penalty kick at the Argentine Malvina Stadium in the city of Mendoza.

The Paraguay-Venezuela match finished with a draw 0-0 after the regular time and aggregate. Paraguay will seek its third regional title in the competition's history, the first one since 1979, when it faces Uruguay on Sunday at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

Venezuela will face Peru on Saturday for third place.

Paraguay now goes to the finals as the only team that has not won any of the five matches played in the competition, tying every single game.

Venezuela, while having its best performance ever in the competition, would get the bronze medal.

Match Review:

Second semifinals:

Paraguay-Venezuela 5-3 in penalties (0-0 regular time and aggregate)

Stadium: Argentine Malvina

Principal Referee: Francisco Chacon (MEX). Field

Assistants: Leonel Leal (CRC) and Humberto Clavijo (COL).

Penalties:

Paraguay: Nestor Ortigoza, Lucas Barrios, Christian Riveros, Osvaldo Martinez and Darío Veron.

Venezuela: Giancarlo Maldonado, Jose Manuel Rey and Nicolas Fedor. Franklin Lucena (stopped)

Cautions:

Paraguay: Jonathan Santana (78') and Dario Veron (107')

Venezuela: Roberto Rosales (55')

Ejections:

Paraguay: coach Gerardo Martino (95') and Jonathan Santana (102Â')