Copa America 2024:
With the sides tied after five tries each, Wilker Angel’s penalty kick was saved by Maxime Crepeau in the shootout, and Ismael Kone converted the winning penalty to send Canada through.
Ismael Koné scored in the sixth round of the shootout after Maxime Crépeau’s third save, and Canada moved to the semifinals of its inaugural Copa America, defeating Venezuela on Friday night.
The Canadians prevailed 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in the quarterfinals, preventing Venezuela from reaching the Copa America semifinals for the first time since 2011.
Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg scored in the 13th minute, and Venezuela’s Salomón Rondón equalized in the 64th.
The victory earned 48th-ranked Canada a rematch against Lionel Messi and Argentina, the world’s top-ranked team and defending Copa America champion, on Tuesday night at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Each side scored three times in the five rounds of the shootout, necessitating the overtime session.
After Canada’s Maxime Crépeau stunned the pro-Venezuelan crowd of 51,080 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium by stopping Jhonder Cádiz, Koné slipped his shot past Rafael Romo for the victory.
With 54th-ranked Venezuela behind 1-0, Jon Aramburu fired a long pass from his own penalty area, leaving only Rondón and Moisés Bombito to compete for the lost ball near midfield.
Just as Rondón took control, Crépeau realized he was too far away and dashed toward his goal. It was too late. Rondón’s lofted effort over the scrambling Crépeau rebounded two yards in front of the goal and in.
The Canadians were the fourth team to move from the Copa America group stage after scoring one goal. They quickly matched that in their first elimination game.
Shaffelburg scored with an assist from Jonathan David, who had scored the previous goal in a 1-0 victory over Peru, with a ball from Shaffelburg between the right post and Rafael Romo.
After scoring, Schaffelburg raised the No. 17 shirt of Tajon Buchanan, who shattered his tibia in his lower left leg in practice three days before the game against Venezuela.
Rondón had two early headers saved, and shortly after his score, Shaffelburg tried another threatening effort from right inside the penalty area, which Romo deflected away.
Before Rondón’s equalizer, Eduard Bello redirected a corner kick from across the field toward the net, but the ball landed on top of the net following a leaping deflection by Crépeau.
Shaffelburg received a yellow card in the 36th minute for attempting to return too fast from the sideline after being hurt during a tackle.
He limped to the sidelines and attempted to return before Venezuela took a free kick on Canada’s defensive end. He was sent back off, and Canada momentarily played with one less man before clearing the ball to midfield, allowing him to return.
