Copa America 
/ Michael Lintorn / 21 July 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Paraguay celebrating their shootout success before things turned nasty
"Paraguay [[3.0]] can achieve an even more unique feat by becoming the first team to triumph in the competition without actually winning a single game."
A post-match scrap overshadowed the action on the pitch as Paraguay earned a place in Sunday's final against Uruguay by defeating Venezuela on penalties.
After the shocks of the quarter-finals, the semi-finals went the way that the odds suggested, with Paraguay joining Uruguay in Sunday's Copa America Final courtesy of a penalty shootout victory over the tournament's surprise package Venezuela.
And while the [1.49] favourites to claim the trophy, Uruguay, will be looking to make history with a record 15th title, Paraguay [[3.0]] can achieve an even more unique feat by becoming the first team to triumph in the competition without actually winning a single game.
This was Gerardo Martino's side's second straight spot-kick success and followed three draws in the group stage, meaning every single one of their encounters to date have finished level, with the [3.25] on them completing a full house in Buenos Aries sure to appeal.
If they were unfortunate not to take three points when they last met Venezuela in Group B though, seeing a 3-1 lead eradicated in the final few minutes of that match, then there is no doubt that lady luck was in their corner in the final-four collision.
Venezuela, who were [310.0] to go all the way before it all started on July 1, had a goal disallowed and hit the woodwork three times before eventually being beaten in the shootout, punished for one tame attempt by Franklin Lucena.
Their sense of injustice was strengthened by the referee's failure to dismiss Dario Veron, who went on to score the decisive penalty.
Sadly, their fine effort in this year's Copa America might not live as long in the memory as the scenes that followed their elimination. The two squads engaged in the on-the-pitch brawl that appears almost a monthly tradition in South America, which is expected to be investigated by the organisers.
As far as the final is concerned, Uruguay boast the head-to-head advantage having won three of the last four clashes, and are [2.02] to end Paraguay's drawing streak by prevailing in 90 minutes. Don't forget - every single Copa America game is available for free via Betfair's fantastic Live Video service.
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