Copa America 2011 Semifinals, Uruguay Vs. Peru: Uruguay Books Spot In Final With 2-0 Win

So terrifying, in fact, that Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has issued a stern warning to...the entire nation of Uruguay, it appears: “Uruguay better be careful otherwise I will bring a never ending case against them.” ADL also came out with this gem: “I’ll kill them if they’ve broken my Edinson.”

Peru did their best to come back, grabbing a better hold of the match after Suarez’s second goal than they had all match, but it wasn’t enough. Fernando Muslera, who was brilliant in the quarterfinals, looked shaky. Once he let a ball slip through his hands and had to dive on it before it went across the line and another time he hopelessly slapped at a cross, but neither went in.

Uruguay was able to see out the match and close up their 2-0 victory over Peru. For Peru, the semifinals is a massive accomplishment, while Uruguay still has their dream of a Copa America title alive. On Sunday, they’ll be able to make their final case for it as they play in Buenos Aires in the final.

The first half of the Copa America semifinal between Uruguay and Peru went exactly how it was supposed to. Uruguay were the favorites and absolutely dominated the first 45 minutes. They controlled possession and stretched the Peru defense. They weren’t contested in the middle third and found space in the final third. They played crosses in and created chances. Peru’s attack was almost non-existant and at no point did it feel like Peru had any chance to win the match. Amazingly though, Uruguay couldn’t break through and for all their dominance it is still scoreless at the break.

It took just minutes for Uruguay to get their first chance, but Luis Suarez sent it wide. Another time Raul Fernandez was called upon and he answered with a fantastic stop from right in front of goal before diving on the rebound to dent the Uruguayans. Twice crosses that looked bound for unmarked players were blocked at the last minute by a diving Peruvian defender and when Uruguay finally put the ball in the goal, Arvalo Perieira was whistled for offisde to nullify the goal.

One match, one spot in the Copa America final. That’s what’s going on tonight in La Plata as Uruguay and Peru square off in the semifinals. For Uruguay it is a chance to move one step closer to a record 15th Copa America crown. Meanwhile, Peru are the underdogs nobody expected to win a match, let alone make it to the semifinals and once again nobody is giving them much of a chance to win tonight.

Uruguay are the favorites, but their edge has been significantly cut by all of their missing players. Edinson Cavani and Mauricio Victorino? Injuries have ruled them out. Add in the suspension of Diego Perez because of a red card next match and the favorites have some holes to fill. Luckily, they have Walter Gargano to fill in for Perez and Sebastian Coates has two matches under his belt in the tournament to take Victorino’s spot. Even so, it’s opened a hole for a Peru team that’s playing well and will threaten Uruguay with Paolo Guerrero and Juan Manuel Vargas.

Copa America built a reputation as one of the world’s most entertaining tournaments over the past couple decades, but that hasn’t been the case with this year’s tournament. It’s been dull and it doesn’t figure to get much better with many of South America’s top teams eliminated. Gone are Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia, leaving Uruguay as the favorites heading into the semifinals. If they are to book their place in the final, Uruguay will have to get past Peru in La Plata on Tuesday night.

Once again, Uruguay will be forced to play without Edinson Cavani, but playing without him has become the norm this tournament. He was dreadful in their first game and subbed off at halftime of their second game with a knee injury. They played their next two matches without him and now sit in the semifinals despite having played more minutes without their deadly striker than they have with him.