Canada advances to Copa America quarterfinals

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ORLANDO, June 30, (AP): Maxime Crépeau finished with three saves to lead Canada to a scoreless draw with Chile at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday night, sending the Canadians to the quarterfinal round of Copa America in their first appearance.

Chile was forced to play a man down after Gabriel Suazo was issued a second yellow card in the 27th minute, but Canada (1-1-1) could not take advantage. Suazo also received a yellow card in the 12th minute, leading to the red card.

Gabriel Arias saved two shots for Chile (0-1-2). Arias had both of his saves and Crépeau, the keeper for Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers, had one in the first half.
Canada advanced to the quarterfinals on Thursday when Group A leader Argentina beat Peru 2-0.

Argentina, the favorites to win the event for a second straight time, won all three of its matches in group play. Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in the championship match in 2021, the last time the tournament was held. Argentina and Uruguay have both won the title 15 times.

Lautaro Martínez scored twice and Argentina, playing without the injured Lionel Messi, wrapped up Copa America group play with a 2-0 win over Peru.
A nicely placed through ball from Ángel Di María led to Martínez’s first goal in the 47th minute. Martínez was embraced by teammates afterward, then went to hug Messi, who was standing near Argentina’s bench.

Martínez doubled Argentina’s lead in the 86th minute and now has a tournament-leading four goals.
Messi did not play as he nurses a leg injury suffered in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Chile on Tuesday that clinched a quarterfinal berth for the defending champions. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was also absent after being suspended because of his team’s late second-half return to the pitch in its previous two Copa matches.
Saturday, the Albiceleste walked out for the second half just a few seconds before Peru.

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