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• Venezuela 1-1 Canada (aet, 3-4 pens): Kone penalty heroics earn Marsch landmark win in Copa classic

  Ismael Kone sent Canada to their first Copa America semi-final as they overcame Venezuela 4-3 in a penalty shootout to edge a classic encounter. 

  Jacob Shaffelburg opened the scoring for Canada, only for Salomon Rondon to net a stunning long-range equaliser to take the quarter-final the distance. 

  With 32 shots shared between the two sides, penalties would decide who would face Argentina at the MetLife Stadium next week. 

  The decisive miss came from Wilker Angel, with Kone's stuttering run up allowing him to coolly slot the ball beyond Rafael Romo to secure the victory. 

  Despite the nerves of playing in their first-ever knockout fixture at the Copa America, it was Canada who would strike the decisive blow early on in Texas.

  Having seen appeals for a penalty waved away moments earlier, Shaffelburg dusted himself down to open the scoring, squeezing home Jonathan David's cross at the near post in the 13th minute. 

  Jesse Marsch's side had opportunities to double their advantage, as Shaffelburg saw his effort saved while David fluffed his lines with only Romo to beat as a pulsating first half came to a close. 

  Canada's dominance continued after the break but Cyle Larin was unable to hit the target, and their wastefulness in front of goal was punished spectacularly. 

  A long ball up front saw Rondon win a tussle with Moise Bombito, taking aim from just inside the Canada half to lob Maxime Crepeau for a goal of the tournament contender. 

  David continued to threaten for Canada, chipping the ball in behind for Tani Oluwaseyi who could only find the roof of the net in the final chance of normal time. 

  Both sides would miss two spot-kicks as the encounter reached sudden death, but Angel saw his effort saved by Crepeau, handing the responsibility over to Kone, who clinched a landmark victory for Marsch's side. 

   

  Venezuela's young guns can be proud of their efforts

  Fernando Batista can count his team unlucky following their gut-wrenching exit from the tournament, but his young squad can take pride in their performances at the tournament. 

  Venezuela battled an onslaught of Canada pressure, but fought back with their own attacking talents, with Rondon's strike their fourth consecutive goal at the Copa America, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of five games in June 2015. 

  However, hopes of reaching a first semi-final since 2011 were dashed. 

  Nevertheless, Venezuela can leave the tournament with their heads held high, having equalled their highest goal tally (seven) in a single edition of the tournament. 

  Canada through, but must improve in front of goal

  Marsch said he wanted to build something special with Canada, and his side's run in the Copa America has been nothing short of sensational. 

  Canada started brightly through Shaffelburg's early strike, with all three of his international strikes coming in knockout matches. However, it should have been more. 

  From their 16 shots on goal, only seven were on target, with 12 of their efforts coming inside the box. Marsch's side underperformed their expected goals (xG) by 0.84, and had four total big chances compared to Venezuela's 0. 

  Despite those underlying statistics, Canada will be hopeful of keeping their fairytale run in the competition alive against Argentina, who they lost to in the group stage of the competition. 

• Columbus Crew v Toronto FC: Herdman lays down the gauntlet for the Reds following ‘turning point’ fixture

  John Herdman insists that Toronto FC’s defeat to Orlando City must be a turning point in their MLS campaign ahead of facing in-form Columbus Crew this weekend.

  Toronto had taken an early lead through Derrick Etienne but were compounded to a fifth straight defeat that leaves them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Nashville SC. 

  Head coach Herdman acknowledged his side’s poor recent form, and ensured conversations would be had with his players and staff to ensure they return to winning ways sooner, rather than later.

  “This has to be a turning point for the club tonight,” Herdman said. “I said that to the players after the game, ‘It has to be the turning point.’

  “There's going to be some hard conversations in the next two days starting with all of us looking at ourselves in the mirror for that 20-minute period.

  “What happened there? And why is it happening? Why do we fall into that trap game after game after game?”

  However, they will have to do so against a Columbus side in a rich vein of form having earned a third straight triumph with their 2-0 win over Nashville last time out.

  The Crew currently occupy third place in the Eastern Conference and are one of three sides chasing runaway leaders FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami.

  Head coach Wilfried Nancy commended his team’s recent displays and said he intends to do everything possible to keep that feel-good feeling in the camp before welcoming Toronto to the Lower.com Field.

  “I'm going to talk about the present moment because it's a fact: They are really good,” Nancy said of his side.

  “They are really good. We are going to try to do everything to help them to stay like this because

  for me, it's a key point. It's a key point about the way we want to play.”

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez

  There is arguably no one better in the MLS right now than Cucho Hernandez as he kept up his impressive recent form for the Crew.

  Since returning from injury, the Colombian has registered six goals and four assists in his last five matches, with his most recent coming in their 2-0 win over Nashville as he set up Christian Ramirez to open the scoring at the Lower.com Field.

  Toronto FC – Federico Bernardeschi

  Federico Bernardeschi continues to be an attacking force for Toronto, and he will be needed on top form if his side are to halt their current five-game winless run.

  The Italian has been involved in 14 goals in his last 10 MLS matches (eight goals, six assists), including an assist against Orlando City last time out.

  MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

  Columbus are expected to emerge victorious, with Nancy’s side winning 76.7% of Opta’s data-led simulations heading into the encounter.

  The Crew have an impressive home record, losing one of their last 30 home matches in all competitions dating back to May 2023 (W20 D9). In that streak, 12 of those victories have been by a margin of two or more goals.

  Columbus also boast an impressive record over their opponents and are unbeaten in their last five league matches against Toronto. Before this run, Columbus had won just two of their previous 14 meetings with Toronto dating back to 2016.

  Toronto, however, will be out to cause an upset. Their current five-game losing run is the seventh losing streak of five or more matches since the start of the 2021 season.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Columbus Crew – 76.7%

  Draw – 13.9%

  Toronto FC – 9.4%

• Bellingham fined by UEFA but England star free to face Switzerland

  Jude Bellingham has been fined by UEFA for a gesture made in England's win over Slovakia at Euro 2024, while Turkiye's Merih Demiral has been banned for two games for his goal celebration.

  England midfielder Bellingham scored a stunning overhead kick to equalise in stoppage time against Solvakia, keeping his side's tournament hopes alive.

  But he was seen kissing his hand and grabbing his crotch after the full-time whistle in a gesture some interpreted as an insult towards Slovakia's fans and bench.

  Bellingham later took to social media to rubbish the claims, claiming it was an "inside joke gesture".

  After an investigation, UEFA has handed him a €30,000 fine, along with a one-match suspended ban, which means he can face Switzerland on Saturday.

  The ban is suspended for one year.

  While Bellingham will be available for England's quarter-final against Switzerland, Demiral will not be able to play in his side's match against the Netherlands.

  The defender scored twice against Austria, including the fastest-ever knockout round goal in Euros history, and celebrated his second with a 'wolf salute'.

  His gesture, which is banned in France and Austria, is associated with the far-right extremist group Grey Wolves, which is linked with Turkiye’s ruling coalition party, the National Movement Party.