COPA AMERICA ROUND-UP
Venezuela topped a group at the Copa America for the first time in their history after a goalless draw with Uruguay on Tuesday in Merida saw the hosts head Group A.
A point was good enough for Venezuela to qualify for the quarter-finals and they took no undue risks in recording the first blank game of the tournament.
The result meant Venezuela ended the group phase with five points and an unbeaten record, while Uruguay and Peru finished level on four points but the latter claimed second place by virtue of a better goal difference.
Venezuela came closest to breaking the deadlock in a pedestrian first half but Uruguay keeper Fabian Carini did well to keep out Mallorca star Juan Arango's effort from distance which was heading for the top corner.
Carini was the saviour again three minutes later, denying Giancarlo Maldonado when the striker just had the Internazionale stopper to beat.
The second half carried on in much the same vein, although Uruguayan coach Oscar Washington Tabarez did introduce Alvaro Recoba and Sebastian Abreu to provide more attacking impetus but they still did not trouble Venezuela goalkeeper Rennie Vega.
Striker Diego Forlan fired just wide after 51 minutes and at the other end, Cesar Gonzalez saw a free-kick just clear the bar at the death for Venezuela.
A brace by new Chelsea signing Claudio Pizarro helped Peru twice come from behind to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa America after a 2-2 draw with Bolivia.
In front of 40,000 fans at the crowded Metropolitano stadium in Merida, Bolivia knew only victory in their final Group A clash was enough to make the last eight and began in promising fashion.
Jaime Moreno gave Bolivia the advantage as the DC United striker cleverly lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Leao Butron from outside the box.
The lead lasted only 10 minutes, however, as Pizarro equalised with a precise header from Juan Carlos Marino's free-kick before Bolivia went ahead for the second time on the stroke of half-time as Joselito Vaca fed Campos, whose powerful volley left Butron with no chance.
However, another Marino free-kick five minutes from time allowed Pizarro to once again pull his side level with a towering header as the Incas sealed their passage to the knockout stages.
