Peru vs Colombia for Copa America 2016 Quarterfinals: Who Will Advance to the Semis? Kickoff, Schedule, Live Stream and Tickets
Colombia Aims to Improve Mental Focus to Win Match
One quarterfinal highlight for the Copa America 2016 is the match between Colombia and Peru on Friday for a semifinal slot in the football tournament. Both teams will meet at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Peru hoping to secure another semifinal try for the Copa America Centenario.
Colombia Working on Mental Focus
Colombia, on the other hand, is aiming to qualify for the next round after not making it this far for 12 long years. Colombian midfielder Carlos Sanchez Moreno talked to his teammates about staying mentally focused during their upcoming qualifier. He noted that they need to keep their attention on the match to be able to defeat their Peruvian opponents.
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"Our physical aspect is fundamental, but a lot of games are usually won by the mental aspect," Moreno added, noting that this will be the game-changer for Friday. He also claimed that the team needs to work harder on this mental aspect of the players.
The team had great wins versus Paraguay and the US but got stunned when they played Costa Rica and lost in a 3-2 standing. Moreno recognized that they are up against a team that keeps getting better. He said that Peru has the power that the entire Colombian team should be prepared for.
Los Incas on the Rise
On the contrary, Peru emerged as the Group B winner after it defeated Brazil and Haiti and secured a draw with its match versus Ecuador. The team showed its defensive strength with two shutouts in their three games for the tournament. They are also offensively productive as a team.
The Los Incas claimed a surprising victory versus mighty Brazil last Sunday. Striker Raul Ruidiaz scored a "handball" goal passed by midfielder Andy Polo. Referees reportedly did not consider it a goal at first, but they ended up changing their decision in favor of Peru.
Despite Peru's earlier feat and its talented players, the same report claimed that Colombia remains to be the favored team to win the match. The Colombians are expected to maintain their focus on the game and not let another victory slip like what happened with their loss to Costa Rica.
Friday's game will begin at 8 p.m. with tickets ranging from $225 to $651. It will be aired live by Fox Sports 1 and Unimas. Livestream of the game is also available via FoxSoccer2Go.
