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4.07.2019Bayer 04

Title dreams over for Aránguiz and Bailey

The dream of winning a continental tournament with their home nations is over for Charles Aránguiz and Leon Bailey. Both Werkself players were on the losing sides in their semi-final ties in the early hours of Thursday – two-time winners Chile lost 3-0 against Peru in the Copa America and Jamaica were beaten 3-1 by the USA in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
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Charles Aránguiz would have loved to hold the trophy for the South American tournament aloft for a third time in succession after 2016 and 2017 – now the 30-year-old Chilean is just left with the third and fourth place play-off in this year’s Copa. In front of around 33,000 spectators in Porto Alegre, the winners of Group C suffered a surprise defeat against Peru who finished behind Brazil and Argentina in Group A but progressed to the quarter-finals as the best third-placed team. The goals for Peru were scored by Edison Flores (21'), Yoshimar Yotun (38') and the former Bayern Munich player Paolo Guerrero (90+ 1'). In the fourth minute of added time, Chile's Eduardo Vargas missed the chance to score a consolation goal for La Roja when he failed to convert a penalty – the VAR had identified a foul in the penalty area on Aránguiz who played for the full 90 minutes.

The third and fourth place play-off between Chile and Argentina is on Saturday (21.00 CET) in a repeat of the final of 2017 – Brazil and underdogs Peru face each other in the final on Sunday (22.00 CET).

Bailey provides assist

While Aránguiz still has one game to play before his well-earned summer break, Leon Bailey can head off on holiday now. Winning his fourth cap, the 21-year-old was unable to prevent the Reggae Boyz losing 3-1 to the Gold Cup holders the USA in the semi-finals. The Werkself number seven, who produced a lively performance on the left wing at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville for over 90 minutes, did provide the cross for Shamar Nicholson to make it 2-1 on 69 minutes. That was too little for the Jamaicans, who were prone to making mistakes, against a confident USA side with their goals scored by Weston McKennie (9') and the former Dortmund player Christian Pulisic (52', 87'). In Sunday’s final, USA play Mexico including the former Bayer 04 pro Chicharito. There is no third and fourth place play-off in the Gold Cup.

Lamti through to knockout rounds with Tunisia

The third Bayer 04 player still still away on international duty is Marc Lamti with the Tunisia U19 side at the Africa Cup. Tunisia went through to the last 16 on Tuesday night with a third draw in their third group game against Mauritania putting them second in Group E. As in the last two games, Lamti was on the bench for 90 minutes – but he can be hopeful of making appearance in the Round of 16 match against Ghana on Monday (8 June, 21.00 CET).

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