Copa America: Vargas Peru hero as Falcao miss shocks Colombia

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Peru had a hero in Juan Vargas and Colombia had a villain in Radamel Falcao on Saturday as Italy-based Vargas scored while Porto's Falcao missed a penalty to send the Peruvians into the Copa America semi-finals.

"Falcao never misses a penalty - not even in training," said Colombia's incredulous coach Hernan Dario Gomez as he pondered his well-regarded side's exit from the tournament after Carlos Lobaton and Vargas bagged extra-time goals to give Peru their first semi-final berth in 14 years.

"We made tons of chances, but we missed them," said Gomez as his men prepared to head for home despite having beaten hosts Argentina to top spot in the group.

The Peruvians, who next face either Argentina or Uruguay, had come to the event having finished rock bottom of the last regional World Cup qualifiers.

But under Sergio Markarian they have taken the Copa by storm with this showing in Cordoba and need set themselves no limits, says Vargas.

"It was a really tough game but we applied ourselves. We rolled our sleeves up and I think we deserved to win it. Every one of us fought really hard right to the final whistle," said Vargas.

"I hope we can keep this going," added Vargas, who plays his club football for Fiorentina and is affectionately known as El Loco (the madman).

Saturday's goal was his fourth for the Blanquirroja but Vargas is by no means a stranger to playing in Argentina, having starred for Colon after starting out with Universitario de Deportes in his homeland.

He then headed to Italy with Catania before joining Fiorentina three seasons ago.

The win over Colombia "is a very important step but there is an even more important game coming up and so we have to be prepared for it.

As for his goal Vargas said: "Goals are the fruit of teamwork but one fell to me and I am very happy."

Asked how the Peruvians upped their game in the final half hour after the Colombians had had the better of things over 90 minutes, twice hitting the woodwork, Vargas said: "It's all about the love of the shirt.