Big hand for Suarez

Uruguay, one of the most admired teams at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, are through to the final of the Copa America and Luis Suarez, a hate figure at the same tournament, has taken them there.

The South Americans were semifinalists in South Africa, but could only reach the last four, thanks to an infamous handball by Suarez, which stopped a certain goal for Ghana in the quarterfinals.

With most of local fans rooting for Ba-Ghana as the last team from Africa in the World Cup, Suarez's act was immediately labelled "hand of the devil".

Suarez achieved more notoriety in November last year when he bit an opponent while playing for Ajax Amsterdam. The striker was banned for seven games after sinking his teeth into the shoulder of PSV midfielder Otman Bakkal.

Since then, however, Suarez has redeemed himself as a star player in his new club, Liverpool, and he has been outstanding in the Copa America.

On Tuesday night in La Plata, Argentina, he scored in the 53rd and 58th minutes to lead Uruguay past Peru 2-0 and into the Copa America final.

Uruguay will be looking for a record 15th Copa America title in Sunday's final against either Paraguay or Venezuela in Buenos Aires.

Peru, who were the worst team in South American World Cup qualifying just a year ago, have been one of the surprises of the South American championship and have played without their top two forwards, Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizarro.

Diego Forlan set up the first goal in the 53rd, taking a long, low shot that Peru keeper Raul Fernandez dived to his left to save. But Suarez swarmed on the rebound and sent the ball into the open net from a sharp angle with Fernandez sprawled on the ground.

Suarez struck again five minutes later when he took a pass near midfield that split two defenders, then broke for the goal. When Fernandez came out to stop him, he stepped around to the keeper's right and rolled the ball into an open net.

Peru's Juan Vargas was sent off in the 69th minute.

Peru had their best scoring chance in the 84th when Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera leaped high to stop Paolo Guerrero's long shot. The ball slipped from Muslera's hand, but he covered up quickly just inches from the goal line.

Uruguay, tied with Argentina with 14 Copa America titles, won their last Copa trophy in 1995. They were the runners-up in 1999, losing to Brazil, who had won four of the last five Copa America titles entering this tournament.

Uruguay are fielding nearly the same team they did a year ago, when they also went farther in the World Cup than South America's two giants.

Brazil and Argentina both lost on penalties in the Copa America quarterfinals. Brazil lost to Paraguay and Argentina went down against Uruguay.

Chile, who had been the best team in the group stages, were upset 2-1 by Venezuela in the quarterfinals.