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Chile beat Uruguay to reach Copa America semi-finals

The full-back found the target nine minutes from time after Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani was dismissed following a second yellow card for an off-the-ball incident with Gonzalo Jara here on Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

Uruguay <g data-gr-id="26">were</g> handicapped further when Jorge Fucile was also booked for a second time for a rash tackle on Alexis Sanchez.

The hosts will now confront the winner of Thursday’s quarter-final between Bolivia and Peru for a place in the final. Jorge Sampaoli’s team are aiming to win the Copa America for the first time, despite the fact this will be their 20th appearance in the tournament’s last four.

Uruguay will head home pondering what might have been had they been able to call upon their talisman Luis Suarez. The striker missed the tournament due to a ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during last year’s World Cup.

Cavani took his place in Uruguay’s starting line-up despite Tuesday’s arrest of his father for allegedly causing the death of a motorcyclist by crashing his car while drunk.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez will surely be ruing that decision now after the forward showed a blatant - and understandable - lack of focus. Having struggled all tournament, Cavani looked particularly out of sorts on Wednesday. His most telling contribution was an ambitious 35-yard volley early in the second half that flew over the crossbar.

Chile dictated terms from the outset, boosted by the partisan support of a packed Estadio Nacional stadium.

Jorge Valdivia continued his outstanding form this tournament as he provided the impetus of most of Chile’s attacking moves. He set up Charles <g data-gr-id="28">Aranguiz</g> in the 26th minute before the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. 
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