After having two goals disqualified after video reviews, Chile kept their cool and stayed on track to defend the title.

Reigning champions Chile advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa America after beating Colombia 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out following a 0-0 draw at the Corinthians arena.

Alexis Sanchez got the winning spot kick after William Tesillo pulled Colombia’s last penalty wide of the post on Friday night.

Chile will face either Uruguay or Peru in Wednesday’s semi-final in Porto Alegre. The other semi-final is between hosts Brazil and Argentina.

“I think we had opportunities (during the game),” said Chile’s Charles Aranguiz. “We didn’t take them and we had to do it on penalties.

“Our team is confident when it comes to penalties, we have won two finals on penalties. So that gives us energy.”

ALEXIS SÁNCHEZ SCORES THE WINNING PENALTY!!!#Chile beat #Colombia 5-4 on penalties! The two-time defending champions stay alive and advance to #CopaAmerica semifinals.#COLCHI #LaRoja 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱 pic.twitter.com/644lp9Xmv7 — The Footy on Paper Podcast (@footyonpaper) June 29, 2019

Tempers frequently flared in a match with 35 fouls but there was no lack of quality on show as both sides created chances.

Chile were unlucky not to win in regulation time, with Aranguiz in the first half and Arturo Vidal in the second having goals chalked off after video assistant referee (VAR) reviews.

“It’s difficult because you’re going at 100 miles an hour and then they annul two goals,” said Vidal.

“But we kept our heads and won it on the penalties.”

Colombia players react during a penalty shoot-out [Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters]

The kick-off at the Corinthians arena was delayed by 20 minutes after the Chilean squad didn’t arrive in time because of heavy traffic in Sao Paulo, keeping more than 40,000 fans waiting.

Chilean media said it took nearly two hours for the squad to get to the stadium in the suburbs of Brazil’s biggest city.

Chile had beaten Argentina in the last two Copa finals on penalty kicks and they gave Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina no chance on Friday.