Canada reach the semi-finals of the Copa America on their debut. Favorite Venezuela scores a dream goal but loses on penalties
Canada survived the group stage of the Copa America with just one goal, but one more was enough to advance to the semi-finals. On Sunday night (CEST), coach Jesse Marsch’s team defeated in-form Venezuela 4:3 on penalties. In the semi-finals, the Canadians will face defending champions Argentina on Wednesday (2:00 CEST), who also progressed on penalties against Ecuador the day before and against whom they lost the opening game 2-0.
The 2026 World Cup co-hosts, who had received an invitation to the Copa for the first time, got off to a brisk start in Arlington, Texas, taking the lead in the 13th minute after a quickly taken throw-in by attacker Jacob Shaffelburg and then had chances to increase the lead to 2-0. However, the Venezuelans, who had clearly dominated their Group B with three wins from three games and 6:1 goals, were also dangerous time and again.
After just over an hour, it was Salomon Rondon who got the equalizer he deserved with his 44th international goal – and how: After a Canadian corner, a clearance landed with the 34-year-old, who lined up a lob just past the center circle and superbly beat keeper Maxime Crepeau, who was positioned in front of his penalty area (64′).
Keeper Crepeau saves two penalties
Because there was no extra time in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, the game went straight to a penalty shoot-out, in which two players on each side took it in turns to miss. When Bayern professional Alphonso Davies stepped up as the fifth Canadian shooter, he had to score and held his nerve – 3:3. Teammate Crepeau then saved for the second time, this time against Wilker Angel, who had come on as a substitute in stoppage time, and Ismael Koné finally made it all clear for Marsch and his team.
Uruguay and Brazil as well as Colombia and Panama will play out the other two semi-finalists on Sunday night (CEST).