Samba stars roll into semis

Brazil cruised into the semi-finals of the Copa America with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Mexico in Piura.

Adriano was the man of the match, scoring two goals and making the other two to become the tournament’s leading scorer with five.

Alex put the World Cup holders ahead from the penalty spot in the 27th minute when Mexico keeper Oswaldo Sanchez was harshly adjudged to have brought down Adriano in the box.

Mexico battled back in the second half but Adriano put Brazil in control in the 65th minute with a superb left-foot shot from the edge of the area.

The striker was on target again 12 minutes from time when he beat keeper Sanchez to the ball and tapped in.

And substitute Ricardo Oliveira completed the scoring in the final minute after a superb back-heel from Adriano.

Brazil will now meet Uruguay in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Dario Silva hit a second-half double as 10-man Uruguay earlier came from behind to defeat Paraguay 3-1 and book their place in the last four.

Jorge Fossati’s men had looked to be in trouble when, midway through the second half, midfielder Gustavo Varela was sent off with the score at 1-1.

But two minutes later the men from the banks of the River Plate were ahead thanks to Dario Silva, whose 15-yard shot deflected off defender Julio Manzur and flew into the far corner, with keeper Justo Villar completely wrong-footed.

And the Sevilla striker then repeated the trick in the final minute with a breakaway goal to send the Uruguayan bench wild.

Paraguay defeated Brazil in their final group game and they were still bubbling with confidence from that game early in this encounter.

It was no surprise, then, when Carlos Jara Saguier’s team took the lead after 16 minutes, defender Carlos Gamarra heading home unmarked following a left-wing free kick.

But Uruguay found their feet gradually and equalised five minutes before half-time.

The impressive Carlos Bueno was fouled by Gamarra inside the penalty area, and the striker picked himself up to send Villar the wrong way from the spot and record his third goal in as many starts in this tournament.

Varela, who had already been booked, was shown the red card after 64 minutes for a desperate lunge at Fredy Bareiro, who was breaking forward with some menace following a Uruguayan corner.

Argentina will face Colombia in the other semi-final tomorrow night.