FCBARCELONA.CAT

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.