Venezuela beat Chile, headed to semis

Left-back Gabriel Cichero scored their winning goal nine minutes from time, stabbing the ball home from close range after Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo had parried a free kick.

Centre-back Oswaldo Vizcarrondo had given the Venezuelans the lead with a header from a set piece in the 35th minute before Humberto Suazo equalised for Chile in the 70th minute.

Both teams ended the match with 10 men, Chile's Gary Medel and Venezuela's Tomas Rincon sent off in the closing minutes.

Venezuela will face Paraguay in Mendoza on Wednesday for a place in the final. Their best previous finish at a Copa America was fifth in 1967.

Lineups:

Chile: Claudio Bravo; Pablo Contreras, Waldo Ponce and Gonzalo Jara; Isla or Fierro, Gary Medel, Carlos Carmona and Arturo Vidal; Luis Jiménez; Alexis Sánchez and Humberto Suazo. Coach: Claudio Borghi.

Venezuela: Renny Vega; Roberto Rosales, Grenddy Perozo, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo and Gabriel Cichero; César González, Franklin Lucena, Tomás Rincón and Juan Arango; Salomón Rondón and Nicolás `Miku` Fedor. Coach: César Farías.

Stadium: Bicentenario (San Juan).

Referee: Carlos Vera (Ecuador).

Kickoff: 7.15 pm