ALISTAIR JOHNSTON’S Copa America adventure has ended in anguish with Canada’s 4-3 penalty-kick shoot-out loss to Uruguay in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Celtic right-back thought his country had clinched third place in the competition when Jonathan David put them 2-1 ahead with 10 minutes to go.
Unfortunately, Luis Suarez equalised for the South Americans in the second minute of stoppage-time to take it to penalties.
And it was Brendan Rodgers’ former Liverpool forward who whipped in the deciding spot-kick in the dramatic conclusion.
UP FOR THE CUP…Alistair Johnston (front row, extreme right) and his Canadian team-mates in high spirits before one of their games in the Copa America.
Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, who had replaced Johnston just after the hour mark, was the Canadian cuplrit who missed with their crucial effort.
He joined team-mate Ismael Kone as a spot-kick sinner while their opponents netted all four and had no requirement to take a fifth.
Uruguay had taken an early lead through Rodrigo Betancurt before Kone made it 1-1 midway through the openng half.
The Hoops defender and his countrymen took the tournament by storm and were not expected to make an impact, so there were no recriminations afterwards when they were just a handful of minutes away from claiming third spot.
ALL OVER FOR JOHNSTON AND CO…Luis Squarez strokes in the penalty-kick decider.
They lost twice to Lionel Messi’s Argentina – twice 2-0, once in the groupd stage and then in the semi-final.
The world champions take on Colombia in the Final in Miami in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
Johnston will now go on a delayed break and will miss the champions’ three-game tour of the USA when Rodgers’ men take on DC United, Manchester City and Chelsea.
He is expected back in time for the Premiership kick-off three weeks today when Celtic face Kilmarnock at Parkhead as they launch their bid for a fourth successive title, their thirteenth in 14 years and 55th crown in total.
REVEALED: EXTENDED BREAK FOR HOOPS DEFENDER
