Canada to face Lionel Messi's Argentina in the semi-finals of their first ever Copa America tournament

Canada to face Lionel Messi's Argentina in the semi-finals of their first ever Copa America tournament

Eric Munene 12:00 - 06.07.2024

Canada beat Venezuela on penalties to book a place in the semi-finals of their first-ever Copa America tournament.

In a gripping encounter at AT&T Stadium, Canada triumphed over Venezuela in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure a historic semi-final berth against Argentina in this year's Copa América.

The Canucks, who had breezed through the group stages with flawless performances, faced a resilient Venezuelan side keen to upset the odds.

The match kicked off with Venezuela asserting early dominance, forcing Canada's goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau into action within minutes to deny Salomón Rondón's sharp attempt.

Despite the early pressure, it was Canada who struck first against the run of play. In the 13th minute, Jonathan David's precise pass found Jacob Shaffelburg, who clinically finished past Rafael Romo to give Canada a crucial lead.

As the game progressed, Canada appeared poised to extend their advantage with Jonathan David and Cyle Larin both squandering clear chances.

Venezuela capitalized on Canada's missed opportunities, equalizing just after the hour mark through a spectacular long-range effort from Salomón Rondón that caught Crépeau off guard.

With the score level at 1-1 after regulation time, the match headed to a tense penalty shootout. Crépeau emerged as Canada's hero, making crucial saves from Wilker Ángel and Jefferson Savarino's spot-kicks.

Ismail Ikoné nervelessly converted the winning penalty, sealing Canada's passage to their first-ever Copa América semi-final.

The victory marks a historic achievement for Canada, who have impressed with their resilience and tactical prowess throughout the tournament. Conversely, Venezuela, despite their spirited performance, will rue missed opportunities and the heartbreak of exiting in such a manner after a hard-fought contest.

Attention now turns to Canada's daunting semi-final clash against Argentina, the defending champions, where they will seek to continue their remarkable journey and potentially make even more history in South American football.

As celebrations ensue for Canada, they will look forward with anticipation and determination to face one of the tournament's perennial powerhouses in what promises to be an electrifying encounter.