Derlis Gonzalez slotted two penalties, one in regular time and again in the shootout, to help Paraguay beat Brazil 4-3 after a 1-1 draw on Saturday that advanced them to a Copa America semi-final against Argentina.

It was the second tournament in succession that Paraguay have beaten Brazil on penalties at the quarter-final stage after 2011 when they went on to reach the final.

They face Argentina tomorrow for the second time in the tournament, having fought back from two goals down for a 2-2 draw in the teams’ opening group match.

Gonzalez netted the decisive Paraguayan penalty with the fifth spotkick having scored his team’s equaliser during normal time.

Robinho started and finished a fine move in the 15th minute to put Brazil ahead before Gonzalez equalised with 20 minutes to go when he converted a penalty after a handball by Thiago Silva.

“Unfortunately, our game dropped in the second half,” said Robinho. “We had chances to kill the game off.

“Paraguay with all respect aren’t one of the best sides. We didn’t kill the game and unfortunately we lost a goal with a silly mistake and we lost.”

Brazil coach Dunga blamed a virus that hit several players for his team’s early elimination,

“It’s not an excuse, but 15 players had a virus this week and we had to limit much of our training,” Dunga told reporters.

“Today was a game in which it was crucial to use speed and that was what we lacked at the end.

“They had a virus, they had headaches, sore backs, aches and pains all over, each of them worse than the next,” he added.

Brazil, who had won 12 of their previous 13 matches since Dunga took charge after last year’s World Cup, had more possession in the first half and weaved some good attacks but Paraguay were quick and dangerous on the break.

Paraguay became more adventurous in the second half and winger Edgar Benitez soon won a free-kick when he was brought down by Dani Alves, though goalkeeper Jefferson parried the ball away from Roque Santa Cruz‘s attempt.

Shoot-out agony

With an hour gone, Jefferson made a diving reflex save from centre-back Paulo Da Silva’s header and later made a similar save from Gonzalez in a counter-attack.

Paraguay captain Justo Villar then had to make a scrambling save from a Philippe Coutinho shot as Brazil piled on late pressure.

In the shoot-out, the writing was on the wall for Brazil from their second penalty which was put wide by Everton Ribeiro and another substitute, Douglas, missed their fourth to give Paraguay two penalties to settle the outcome.

Santa Cruz then skied his penalty, Philippe Coutinho gave Brazil hope by netting his but Gonzalez made no mistake.

Hosts Chile meet Peru in the first semi-final tonight.