Four years ago,Carlos Tevez was the villain of the piece as Argentina crashed out of the Copa America on home turf. But fate has a funny way of redeeming itself, and the striker proved to be the Albiceleste hero as he finally ended an epic quarter-final against Colombia in favour of the deserving team.The shootout was poised at 4-4, and Carlitos' position on the list did not exactly betray a burning desire to make amends. Tevez was down in a lowly seventh on the Albiceleste roster, and he watched both Marcos Rojo and Lucas Biglia squander chances to put the tie to bed. But when Jeison Murillo spooned a horrific mishit over the bar, it was time for the People's Player to return from the shadows.Faced with the imposing David Ospina, Tevez did not doubt. A clean hit down the middle was lofted just high enough to beat the goalkeeper's despairing dive and send the Argentina contingent into ecstasy. From the agony of seeing his penalty miss cost the nation against Uruguay in the 2011 Copa America quarters, this was the real Tevez rising to the occasion.Prior to the shootout, he had little time to make an impact on proceedings. Indeed, the biggest waves made by the Tevez name came via social media. Only the bright spark in Boca Juniors' press department will know why he decided to confirm the Apache's long-awaited return to the Bomboneraand his exit from Champions League finalists Juventusduring the middle of a crucial international clash involving the new signing.New club aside, Tevez watched and suffered with the rest of the fans as Argentina outclassed Colombia in every facet of play. Led by captain Lionel Messi, who was seemingly determined to drag his side to the semis kicking and screaming if necessary, the Albiceleste played their rivals off the park. The numbers speak for themselves: 62 percent of possession, 16 shots compared to two (taken more than an hour in) and eight corners to one, perGoal.But there was one insurmountable obstacle in their path. Ospina chose the quarter-final to play the game of his life, single-handedly keeping Colombia in the running with save after quality save. One could pick an almost gravity-defying double stop in the first half, where after denying Sergio Aguero with his feet, the 'keeper somehow clambered back up to deflect Messi's point-blank header.Or perhaps the best came after the break. At first glance, Nicolas Otamendi's volley appeared to have struck the post, bouncing back agonizingly across the goal line. But again Ospina was involved, using the faintest of fingertips at full stretch to keep his team alive. The woodwork also played its part, as well as an extremely uneven refereeing display, which added to the officials' nightmare Copa so far.Cafetero coach Jose Pekerman, usually a fluent protagonist when setting up his sides, seemed resigned to contain his countrymen. After just 20 minutes, an already defensive lineup had to be further strengthened with Edwin Cardona in the middlesacrificing Teo Gutierrezwhen it was apparent that the likes of Messi and Javier Pastore were gleefully torturing Colombia. Pekerman's men effectively gave up any intention to take on the Argentines, instead opting to spoil and foul their way to the end of 90 minutes.It almost worked. But in the lottery of the shootout, Argentina's nerve held while the Colombians faded. Three missed penalties meant they were always going to be on the verge of oblivion; it was Tevez who was able to deliver the coup de grace.Gerardo Martino's men march on to the semi-finals after their best performance of the Copa America so far. As the TV Publica cameras heard while the coach geed up his charges pre-penalties, it is no mean feat to restrict the World Cup quarter-finalists to just one attempt in 90 minutes. Now either Paraguay or Brazil await, which is sure to be another bruising clash in this draining tournament.More questions will have to be answered in the days leading up to the penultimate game. How, with three strikers of Messi, Tevez and Aguero's quality, have Argentina squandered so many chances to score in the last three and a half games they have contested' What can Messi do when at every turn he has twosometimes threemarkers ready to chop him down' How to solve the infuriating enigma of Angel Di Maria, who continues the slump that began months after signing for Manchester United and shows no sign of halting'Those questions, however, can wait for now. This win was the least Argentina could take from an almost perfect performance, and Carlitos deserves to be the man of the hour. Tevez proved once more that he has great heart and resolve, and those qualities are exactly why the Albiceleste's Copa campaign continues very much on the march in Chile.Read more World Football news on BleacherReport.com
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