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Copa America 2021 is heating up and we're now down to the final four. Peru, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina have all booked a berth in the semi-final and it promises to be two delectable encounters.
The quarter-finals featured quite a few aggressive battles with as many as four red cards shown in four games. It was easy to see how much it meant to the teams.
Three tightly contested affairs in Copa America 2021 quarter-finals
While Peru got the better of Paraguay in a penalty shootout after the match ended 3-3, Brazil won 1-0 against Chile despite being reduced to 10-men in the 48th minute.
Colombia got past Uruguay on penalties after both teams failed to score in 120 minutes. Argentina thumped Ecuador, who were also reduced to 10-men by a 3-0 scoreline.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the five best players from the quarterfinals of the Copa America 2021.
#5 David Ospina (Colombia)
Uruguay squared off against Colombia in perhaps the most high-profile encounter of the Copa America 2021 quarter-finals. The two sides played out a tightly contested game and it took penalties to decide a winner.
At the end of the day, it was Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina who emerged as a hero. The former Arsenal goalkeeper saved Jose Maria Gimenez and Matias Vina's penalties to help Colombia win 4-2 in the shootout.
Ospina went the right way for Cavani's opening spotkick but the Manchester United striker's shot was slotted right into the corner and there was no stopping it. He then pulled off a spectacular save off Gimenez's attempt by diving to his right and parrying the ball away.
Ospina then sprang to his left to keep out Matias Vina's shot to send Colombia into the Copa America 2021 semi-finals where they will take on Argentina.
#4 Gianluca Lapadula (Peru)
Peru and Paraguay played out what was the most exciting matchup of the quarter-final stage. Both teams went shoulder to shoulder and settled for a 3-3 draw in 120 minutes to force a penalty shootout.
It was Paraguay who took the lead through Gustavo Gomez in the 11th minute of the game. But Gianluca Lapadula scored two goals to put Peru ahead. His first was a lovely finish from Andre Carrillo's low cross from the right flank.
His second was even more impressive. Lapadula peeled off the last defender to find space inside the box and he carved a neat left-footed finish past goalkeeper Antony Silva.
There was a lot of drama between Lapadula's goal and the final whistle. Paraguay were reduced to 10-men in first-half stoppage time as Gustavo Gomez was sent off after picking up his second yellow card of the game..
But they came out strong in the second half and took the game to Peru. Parity was restored in the 90th minute of the game and Peru had also been reduced to 10-men by then after Carrillo got sent off in the 85th minute. Lapadula had not scored for Peru before the start of the Copa America 2021 but he has now got three to his name.
#3 Neymar Jr. (Brazil)
Although Brazil have dominated Chile in recent encounters. the Selecao were given a run for their money on Friday. Brazil secured the lead in the 46th minute of the match through Lucas Paqueta but were reduced to 10-men when Gabriel Jesus was sent off two minutes later.
Neymar turned in yet another quality performance. His movement and ability to flit past players like they aren't there made him a menacing presence down the left side. The Paris Saint-Germain attacker played a lovely cross to Roberto Firmino early in the first-half but the latter failed to apply the finishing touch.
Neymar kept slipping away from defenders and creating chances. Neymar helped set up Brazil's only goal of the game as his flick fell rather fortuitously to Paqueta in the first minute of the second half.
Brazil did well to hang on to their lead after Gabriel Jesus was sent off in the 48th minute for a high-boot. Chile had a goal chalked off for offside in the 62nd minute of the game. Tite's men survived several scares before eventually getting away with their 1-0 lead.
#2 Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina)
Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has been one of the best players in the Copa America 2021. The Udinese man was once again a driving force from midfield and was crucial to Argentina starting the game strongly yet again.
He opened the scoring for La Albiceleste in the closing stages of the first-half. De Paul found plenty of space inside the area and amidst the chaos, Messi played an inch-perfect ball to him and the midfielder calmly slotted the ball home.
It was yet another brilliant all-round performance from De Paul as his stock continues to rise amid interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Lionel Messi has stepped up for Argentina and enjoyed a brilliant outing against Ecuador in the Copa America 2021 quarterfinal. The Barcelona legend was a man on a mission and played the length of the game with a lot of swagger.
He hit the post in the 22nd minute after being released into the box. Messi did not let that affect his game as he kept his head to find De Paul free inside the area to score Argentina's opener in the 40th minute.
Messi ran the show in the second half and provided the assist for Lautaro Martinez's goal in the 84th minute. Ecuador then had Piero Hincapie sent off in the 90th minute for a last-ditch tackle on Ang Di Maria right outside the box.
Messi lined up to take the consequent free-kick and smashed the ball into the far right corner to put Argentina through to the semi-finals. The 34-year-old seems determined to end Argentina's trophy drought and has kicked into top form at the right time.
