Goalkeeper David Ospina got all the credit as Colombia beat Uruguay on penalties in Brasilia on Saturday to reach the Copa America semi-finals.

Ospina became a hero for his country by saving two spot-kicks in the shoot-out. This happened on the day he earned his 112th Colombian cap, moving clear of the national record he shared with the legendary Carlos Valderrama.

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There was little to report in a drab 0-0 draw over the regulation 90 minutes before the quarter-final tie went straight to penalties.

Ospina saved from Jose Gimenez and Matias Vina while Colombia scored all four of their penalties.

It was a huge disappointment for Uruguay’s star forward pair Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, who both converted their spot-kicks but almost certainly have played in their last Copa.

It took almost half an hour for either goal to be threatened and when it was — Duvan Zapata found a yard of space to force a save out of goalkeeper Fernando Muslera — the Colombia striker was flagged offside.

Spaces started to open up and Cavani then lashed wildly wide, but again an assistant’s flag went up.

Both Zapata and Cavani were proving a nuisance for their opponents’ defences and it was the burly Colombian whose determination created a chance for Luis Muriel on the stroke of halftime, but his teammate for club and country lashed well wide.

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Uruguay’s Nahitan Nandez came closest yet to breaking the deadlock early in the second half with a misdirected cross that Ospina had to tip away from the top corner.

Uruguay were getting on top as Giorgian de Arrascaeta brought a save out of Ospina and Suarez had a shot charged down.

Zapata was almost fighting a lone battle up front for Colombia, coming close with a pair of headers, but in truth there was little to get excited about.