Chile survived a scare to beat 10-man Peru 2-1 in Santiago and book their place in the final of the Copa America.
The clash was thrown into disarray on 21 minutes when Carlos Zambrano was issued a straight red card for catching Charles Aranguiz with a stray boot following a clearance.
La Roja then capitalised on their advantage in timely fashion, as Eduardo Vargas opened the scoring shortly before the break.
Despite being down to 10 men, the visitors equalised when Gary Medel stuck it into his own net on the hour mark, but parity lasted only five minutes as Vargas struck another from long range shortly after.
Below, relive the drama with our live text commentary.
Could it be Chile's year? With goal-shy Argentina limping into the semi-finals, and Brazil exiting the Copa with a toothless display akin to a Jeremy Kyle segment, it's been suggested that the trophy is Chile's to lose. It's hard to disagree. Whether they've been genuinely impressive or simply the best of a bad bunch, one thing is certain: Jorge Sampaoli's men have stood out among the rest. And this morning they renew hostilities with Peru hoping to continue their pursuit of a first Copa America title. Let's go.
We could be in for a fiery encounter here folks because, simply put, these two don't like each other. Okay it's not quite Israel and Palestine, considering that some of the animosity is centered around cocktails and bicycle kicks. Both nations boast the Pisco Sour cocktail as their international drink - but neither can agree as to where it originated. Pisco is a spirit made from grapes, which grow in both countries, but, rather predictably, Chile say it's Chilean and Peru say it's Peruvian. Unlucky lads it was Ireland.
Furthermore, neither country can also agree on where the bicycle kick originated from. Chile say Ramon Unzaga first performed the overhead kick in the port of Talcahuano circa 1914, while their Peruvian counterparts believe it to have occurred in Callao way back in 1892. Unlucky lads but it was Ireland again. Niall Quinn in 1990.
They'll be arguing over which one of them invented Guinness and Bono next.
Anywho, now that we've established that both nations are arguing over spilled Pisco, let's get into some team news, shall we? Incidentally, Chile also claim that they invented the team sheet - another suggestion that Peru dispute. Let's leave them to it.
CHILE XI: Bravo; Isla, Medel, Rojas, Albornoz; Diaz, Aranguiz, Vidal; Valdivia; Sanchez, Vargas
PERU XI: Gallese; Advincula, Zambrano, Ascues, Vargas; Lobaton, Ballon, Farfan, Cueva; Carrillo, Guerrero
Looks like two changes by Sampaoli then, with Gonzalo Jara, who was issued with a three-game ban for prodding Edinson Cavani's anus with his finger, dropping out for Miiko Albornoz, while Jose Rojas also comes into defence for Eugenio Mena. Arturo Vidal, La Roja's top goalscorer in the competition with three, continues in midfield, with the menacing Alexis Sanchez and predatory Eduardo Vargas ahead of him.
On to the Peruvians now and Ricardo Gareca makes three changes from that 3-1 win over Bolivia in the quarters. Thankfully, they've got no amateur proctologists in their squad, meaning all their modifications are by choice. Carlos Lobaton, Josepmir Ballon and Andre Carillo come into the side in place of Edwin Retamoso, Victor Yotun and Claudio Pizarro. Paolo Guerrero, who netted a hat-trick in the previous round, continues to spearhead the attack. Obviously.
We should point out that Chile trio Jorge Valdivia, Mauricio Isla and Mauricio Pinilla are all one yellow card away from missing the final which, along with Jara's suspension, would not be ideal, would it? Behave yourself lads or pay the penalty.
Ever wondered how Gonzalo Jara is viewed in Uruguay after what he did to Cavani last week?
#Uruguay 'fans' were spotted burning a Gonzalo Jara effigy yesterday. #Chile2015 #Chile pic.twitter.com/3UkAG75s1m
— Matias Grez (@matias_grez) June 29, 2015
11 - Chile have scored 11 goals in their first four matches of this Copa America: their highest tally since 1967 (also 11 goals). Blooming
— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 29, 2015
Right, the captains exchange handshakes, pretending to like each other, and we're minutes away now folks.
KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off in Santiago, folks. Peru, playing from left to right, kick us off. Let's go folks.
Does Miiko Albornoz know what is at stake at here? He's after giving away possession, deep in his own half, by trying a couple of tricks. Get the boat pal it's a semi-final. Fortunately for him, Peru doing nothing with it.
CHANCE! Chile, with 11 goals so far in the competition, remind Peru how dangerous they can be in the final third as Eduardo Vargas runs through on goal but his shot is blocked by Cuedes. Decent opportunity that.
Holy smoke what is Arturo Vidal playing at here? He could, and probably should, have been sent off after squaring up to Zambrano, before raising his hand and making contact with the defender's face! For some reason, the ref doesn't even book him. The standard of refereeing has been under the microscope in the competition thus far, and you can see why. Madness.
YELLOW CARD: Oh god this one is going to be feisty. Very feisty. Carlos Zambrano is booked after just seven minutes for a coming together with Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez. It doesn't bode well, does it?
OFF THE POST! Peru come within the width of the woodwork from edging ahead, as Paolo Guerrero whips a fantastic ball into the box, as Jefferson Farfan climbs above Jose Rojas to connect with it, but it comes back off the post after beating Claudio Bravo. 10 minutes in and this is already better than the Brazil match from the other night.
Carlos Lobaton is spared a yellow card for cynically tripping Jorge Valdivia. Was Graham Poll this bloke's professor at referee school?
Gary 'the Pitbull' Medel lives up to his nickname with a brilliant challenge to thwart Farfan, who looked intent on latching on to Guerrero's through ball. Odd the way he used to play for Cardiff, isn't it? It's also odd the way his name is Gary don't you think?
Gonzalo Jara's suspension might just be fatal you know, because his replacement, left-back Miiko Albornoz, is having a mare in this first 15 minutes. Farfan has had him on toasts so far.
CLOSE! What a goal this would've been, as Guerrero, who has been excellent, holds the ball up well and lays off to Lobaton, whose outside-of-the-boot effort ripples the side netting. Fine effort.
Albornoz probably should've been booked here, but Graham Poll's protege isn't very good as you might imagine. We've seen one card, whereas we should've seen at least four so far - including a red, for what Vidal did earlier.
RED CARD TO PERU! My oh my. Carlos Zambrano, who's already been booked, is given a straight red card for catching Charles Aranguiz with the follow through of a clearance. He did plant his studs into the back of Aranguiz, but I don't know, it's hard to know if there was intent or not. In any case, what a huge, huge development!
He finally trods off the field and it might be wise for this referee to avoid a trip to Peru for about, hmm, 200 years. Is it worse than what we saw from Vidal after a few minutes, when he brushed the face of Carlos Zambrano? Who knows. I know what I think. Peru have been done here.
If there was pressure on Chile before kickoff then what's the expectation level like now? It's massive, but if they come through it, with a comfortable win in regulation, it'll strengthen them so much for the final, won't it? They'll feel carved out of metal whether it's Argentina or Paraguay next Saturday.
SUB: Wisely, Peru make a sub, and winger Christian Cueva is sacrificed in favour of defender Christian Ramos. Bear in mind that there's no extra-time here until the final, so this goes straight to penalties if it ends like this. You get the feeling that rule favours Peru more than Chile at this moment in time.
CLOSE! This is Chile's best chance, and they probably should be 1-0 up. Valdivia latches on to Sanchez's hospital ball, before curling narrowly wide of Pedro Gallese's goal. Should've been a goal. Simple as.
It's so hard not to feel a bit sorry for Peru. They were comfortably the better team up until the red, which was hugely debatable, and it's killed their momentum. Chile on top.
Great defending from Luis Advíncula, who crucially intercepts a Vidal ball before Vargas can tap into an empty net. The Peru defender thumps the ground in frustration.
You get the feeling that set pieces are going to be critical to Peru's hopes of defying the odds and reaching the final tonight, but they've used them terribly since going to 10 men. They've had two free kicks, in very promising areas, but the delivery has been a catastrophe.
CHANCE! Huge, goal-saving block from Luis Advíncula again, as Vargas looks certain to tap home Mauricio Isla's cross, but the left-back, who has since gone to centre-back, pulled off a fine block in the nick of time. Peru clinging on by their finger nails.
We're about seven minutes from the break, and if Peru bring a 0-0 draw into the changing rooms with them then it'll do them the world of good; one mini victory, and that's what it's about.
It's so hard not to admire Peru, who despite their obvious disadvantage, are still pouring forward at every opportunity. It's a gutsy tactic, but fortune favours the brave and coach Ricardo Gareca obviously does not fancy his side's chances of parking the bus. Fair play to them.
Chile taking risks now, with both full-backs Miiko Albornoz and Mauricio Isla bombing forward. It's as if it's the end of the second half rather than the first.
GOAL! Chile 1-0 Peru (Eduardo Vargas)
Well, it's been coming in recent minutes and Chile finally make the breakthrough. Sanchez cuts inside his marker before fizzing an absolutely fantastic low cross into the area. Aranguiz made up a lot of ground to reach it, but he intentionally allows it to run through his legs to deceive Gallese, before the ball bounced off the post, but Vargas was on hand to tap home the rebound. Brilliant from Sanchez and Aranguiz.
HALF TIME: Chile 1-0 Peru
That's all she wrote in the first half, my friends. Chile break the deadlock against 10-man Peru in the closing stages of a hugely entertaining and equally controversial first 45 minutes in Santiago.
Eduaro Vargas scored the goal, but there was plenty of talking points before that came. First, Arturo Vidal is desperately lucky to stay on the field after brushing the face of Carlos Zambrano in front of the referee after just five minutes. Zambrano was then sent off on 21 minutes for planting his studs into the back of Charles Aranguiz, but it was hugely debatable as to whether or not he meant it. Personally, I don't think so.
Prior to that decision, Peru were the better side. Jefferson Farfan struck the post with a header, before Carlos Lobaton's outside-the-boot effort rippled the side netting as Carlos Gareca's side looked in full control. But Zambrano's dismissal killed their momentum and Chile slowly but surely grew in control. Their better players - Vidal, Sanchez and Valdivia - grew more influential, and it told in the closing stages of the half.
You have to be cold-blooded not to feel a little sorry for Peru. However, they were perhaps a little naive toward the end of that half; bombing forward when they should've been solely focused on getting to the break with parity.
There's no telling what this would do for Chile's morale if they can win in regulation. Being the host nation, coupled with the fact they're favourites to win the competition, La Roja had an abundance of expectation to contend with, and winning here will only serve to reinforce the belief that this is their year.
They've never won this competition remember - and it's only been in existence for 99 years! Victory here and it may take more than Lionel Messi and Argentina to pry their hands from the trophy.
RESTART! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back in Santiago. Chile get us underway once again. Can Peru get back into this? Time will tell, but it's a massive ask. It really is.
SUB: There's one sub to tell you about - and it's Chile! Midfielder Marcelo Diaz makes way for David Pizarro. We're unsure if it's tactical or forced.
OFFSIDE GOAL! Oh my this is a really bad decision, and yet again the officials fail to cover themselves in glory. It's a glorious ball over the top of Peru's defence by Pizarro, and Vargas's first-time volley nestles into the corner of the net, but it's chalked off for offside. Really bad decision.
Unfortunately for Peru, it seems only a matter of time before the Chileans score again. They're getting a ridiculous amount of space in the final third, with right-back Isla afforded acres on his flank. A second seems imminent.
CHANCE! We said a goal was imminent, but for who! Peru have a wonderful chance to grab an equaliser, as Farfan's header is straight at Bravo from close range. If Chile didn't think they needed a second then they certainly believe now.
SHOT! Chile come back strong, and Jorge Valdivia drills a shot straight at Gallese from outside the box. This one isn't ending 1-0. No chance.
Right, Peru have a free kick in a good area now and they need to deliver this properly. Their previous attempts have been useless.
Oh my word what a dreadful, dreadful delivery. It's over-hit, as were the last three or four, and Bravo just needs to catch it. Shocking.
GOAL! Chile 1-1 Peru (Gary Medel own goal)
Would you believe it? We said Miiko Albornoz was a liability, and he's shown a clean pair of heels by Andre Carrilo, who swings a wonderful cross into the box and Medel diverts it past Claudio Bravo. Is that justice for Peru? Despite their man disadvantage, they've been really good tonight on the whole.
And remember - there's no extra time! If this one ends 1-1 then it goes straight to penalties and Chile's numerical advantage would be swiftly wiped out. It's a huge last half-an-hour for both these sides, folks.
GOAL! Chile 2-1 Peru (Eduardo Vargas)
Oh my word take a bow Mr Vargas. Paolo Guerrero loses possession in midfield and Vargas surges toward goal, before unleashing a quite brilliant, swerving strike from an outrageous distance and angle to re-establish Chile's lead. Goal of the tournament? If there's been one better I've not seen it.
There's a carnival atmosphere here at the Estadio Nacional once again, and you have to assume Peru must be mentally and physically drained. They can't grab another equaliser, can they?
Not the best of angles here, but you get the idea. What a hit pal.
كوبا امريكا / تشيلي 2 × 1 بيرو ، فارغاس راااااائع د64 (Vine by @sport_fot) https://t.co/xbgFEiOWDQ
— CIELO TRONADOR (@CIELO_TRONADOR) June 30, 2015
CHANCE! Vargas might've done better here. Vidal whips a fine ball into the box as the unmarked Vargas lurks for a hat-trick, but the striker's header is well over the bar. Disappointing finish, but he's earned that right after what he did a few minutes ago.
SUB: Peru make their final two changes, as the injured Carrilo makes way for veteran striker Claudio Pizarro, while Lobaton is called ashore for Yotun. Still 17 minutes for them to snatch another equaliser and bring us to penalties.
Vargas is brilliant. What were QPR playing at deploying him on the wing last season? He's been lethal tonight, scoring two very different type of goals to illustrate the several dimensions to his game.
SHOT! Advíncula, who's been brilliant defensively tonight, shows just why he is a defender with a volley that ends up nearer to the corner flag. Wrong sport pal.
CHANCE! It's Wimbledon week, and it probably should be game set & match in Santiago, as Sanchez latches on to Aranguiz's through ball but, with just Gallese to beat, fires over the bar. Should've been three. Simple as.
Peru will need to take more chances now, and it's going to leave them vulnerable at the other end, but Chile's end product hasn't been overly impressive tonight. There's more goals in this for them, but they look lacking in motivation. If Chile score a third it'll be because Peru have equalised again.
SUB: One last change for Chile as Jorge Valdivia is applauded by all four corners of the ground for another fine performance, and he's replaced by Felipe Gutierrez. Can Chile hang on or will Peru provide yet another twist?
The hosts, as we said, are still struggling for momentum and motivation. I can see Peru getting one more chance, but will they take it? That's the burning question.
Chile slice through Peru's defence one last time, but Aranguiz's through ball is thwarted by goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
THREE MINUTES ADDED ON:
CHANCE! Chile should finish it just now following a swift counter, but Vidal, with just Gallese to beat, saw his chest-and-volley beaten away by the Peru stopper.
In the 92nd minute we've got Eduardo Vargas tracking back. What a performance from him today. Top drawer stuff. Penny for the thoughts of QPR fans at this time.
FULL TIME: Chile 2-1 Peru
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand it's all over in Santiago. Chile survive a scare to beat 10-man Peru to reach the Copa America final!
Jorge Sampaoli's men had to work hard for their win, but they deserved it overall. However, there's no doubt that the referee contributed to their place in the final with some, um, dodgy refereeing. Read all about it below. For now, it's time for bed. Thanks for joining our live coverage and we'll see you tomorrow for the second semi between Argentina and Paraguay. Until then...
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Shane Callaghan
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