Isla's winner helps Chile win 1-0 in ill-tempered match against Uruguay

Mauricio Isla scoring the winner against Uruguay

Hosts Chile sealed their passage through to the semi-finals after they clinched a 1-0 win over Uruguay in the quarter-finals of the Copa America 2015. The all-important goal came from right-back Mauricio Isla late in the match.

In a match that was played at a fast pace throughout, Chile dominated possession, controlling about 80%. They also did not let Uruguay create many chances. The first half saw Chile trying to build play quickly, but the only two chances of note that came fell to midfielders Aranguiz and Vidal, and both their shots were saved by Muslera.

The two red cards for Uruguay in the second half saw Chile control the entire game, but without much reward. First, Edinson Cavani was sent off in the 67th minute, for a second yellow card, when he slapped Gonzalo Jara in the eyes of the referee.

Then the host nation finally broke the deadlock in the 81st minute as Isla capitalised on a weak punch out from Muslera and sent his right-footed effort into the goal. The goal came as a blow to Uruguay, whose centre-back pairing of Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez had looked a great force till then.

Uruguay’s troubles were compounded when Jorge Fucile was sent off for his second bookable offense late in the game, reducing them to 9 men. Following his red card, some ugly scenes ensued as members of both teams engaged in a scuffle, with the Uruguayan players surrounding the referee.

Chile now move to the semi-finals of the tournament, where they will take on the winner of the Peru-Bolivia encounter.