Three goals from Maria Maldonado powered Chile to a 5-0 victory over Uruguay to lock up the first semifinal match up. Chile will play Argentina in the first semifinal, while Uruguay will prepare to face Peru in the consolation round.

It took 14 minutes before Chile could penetrate the crowded Uruguay circle. The opening goal came on a penalty corner when Fernanda Villagran’s shot was deflected by Maldonado to give Chile a 1-0 cushion at the first break. Uruguay struggled to generate organized attack despite several runs from Teresa Viana and Camila de Maria.

In the 17^th minute Denise Krimerman smashed a ball in to the circle from the left sideline. Maldonado was there with her stick on the ground to deflect the ball for a 2-0 Chile lead. Chiel had a series of penalty corners that they couldn’t connect on. In free play, Agustina Solano had a hard back-hand shot on goal but Uruguay keeper Constance Schmidt-Liermann made the save.

In the second half Chile executed on their opening penalty corner. The shot was faked from the top and dished to Camila Caram. Caram swept the ball hard through the circle and Maldonado was there to deflect in her third of the game.

Manuela Urroz went on a long run for Chile and entering the circle she found a Uruguay foot. Chile had two penalty corners follow, the latter of which resulted in a penalty stroke after Krimerman’s shot hit a foot on the goal line. Villagran made no mistake from the mark to lift Chile 4-0.

Camila Piazza earned Uruguay their first penalty corner at the start of the fourth quarter. The ball was mistraped at the top of the circle but Janine Stanley still managed to get the ball towards goal. Keeper Claudia Schuler got a touch and the ball bounced just past the far post and under the stick of a waiting Clementina Cristiani.

In the 49^th minute Chile executed yet-another great penalty corner as this time Urroz deflected a low pass from Sofia Walbaum to make it 5-0 for Chile.

Uruguay pushed for a goal, earning a penalty corner with two minutes left in the game. Agustina Taborda’s shot was blocked and the follow-up shot from Viana went high over the net.

Chile did well to tire the Uruguay side and protect their 5-0 lead. With the win Chile becomes the third team to advance to the semifinal today and they will face Argentina on August 6.