Canada didn't score too many goals to qualify for the semi-finals of the Copa América.

Don't expect any excuses from your coach Jesse Marsch.

Ismael Koné converted in the sixth round of penalty kicks after Maxime Crépeau saved the second shot and Canada left Venezuela on the road Friday night.

The Canadians, playing in their first Copa América, won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time in the quarterfinals. Venezuela, after a flawless group stage, was looking to reach the Copa América semifinals for the first time since 2011.

The only fourth team in the group stage draw with just one goal, Canada will face Lionel Messi's Argentina next Tuesday in New Jersey.

“People will say we should score more goals or whatever. We need to score more goals. But we had two very good performances against very good rivals,” Marsch said, referring to the 0-0 draw with Chile that secured a place in the quarter-finals. “You can see this team is growing.”

Jacob Shaffelburg gave the Canadians the lead in the 13th minute, but Salomón Rondón equalized in the 64th minute for the Venezuelans.

Crépeau silenced the majority of Venezuelan fans in the 51,080 crowd at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys by blocking Wuilker Ángel's shot. Then, Koné – a midfielder who recently signed with Olympique de Marseille – coolly defined himself against Rafael Romo to seal the victory.

Crépeau also stopped Jefferson Savarino's shot, while Yangel Herrera fired wide. Rondón, Tomás Rincón and Jhonder Cádiz converted for Venezuela.

The Canadians were the surprise package of this Copa America. They came out alive from Group A, which they shared with defending champions Argentina, Chile and Peru. Argentina beat Canada 2-0 in the tournament's opening match.

“Argentina will have to be the best game we have to play and it's possible that it still won't come to us,” Marsch acknowledged. “But whatever happens, we're going to go there.”

Against Venezuela, which won three games in the first phase to lead Group B, the Canadians were not favourites. But they still took the lead.

Eliminated from the Copa America, Venezuela hopes to maintain the good rhythm it has in the CONMEBOL qualifiers where it is fourth and aspires to reach the first World Cup in its history.

“We know it's a long process. All Venezuelans have a big dream: to qualify for the World Cup. Today, playing against Venezuela for rivals is not easy. “It strengthens us a lot for everything that happens,” said Argentine coach Fernando Batista.

“I continue to think and work on everything that is coming, I am another Venezuelan who is trying to achieve this dream of going to the World Cup. “We will try to go to the top,” he added.

Canada took the lead when Shaffelburg received a cross from the right and sent the ball inside the left post. After scoring, Schaffelburg held up the No. 17 jersey of Tajon Buchanan, who suffered a broken tibia in training three days before the Venezuela game.

La Vinotinto equalized after a kick from the Canadian side that Venezuelan defender Jon Aramburu cleared towards the center circle. Rondón recovered the ball through Moïse Bombito and, seeing Crépeau well in front, Venezuela's all-time leading scorer sent a long lobbed shot past the goalkeeper for his third goal of the cup.

Rondón reached 44 points with Vinotinto and extended his advantage over Juan Arango and Giancarlo Maldonado, who have 22 each.

“We weren't very enthusiastic about a very good group stage… Now it's time to think about what's ahead, which is the playoffs,” Rondón said.