Brazil reassured itself with a success against Paraguay (4-1) for its second Copa America match on Friday June 28 in Las Vegas (Nevada, United States), which brings it closer to the quarter-finals.
However, things started badly for the Seleçao who, after being unable to score against Costa Rica at the opening of the competition (0-0), began to tremble when Lucas Paqueta sent a penalty to the right of the opposing goal ( 32nd).
Guimaraes in good shots
Fortunately for Brazil, its new hero Vinicius, recent winner of the Champions League with Real Madrid, saved his teammates from knots in the brain by completing a superb collective movement alone against the goalkeeper (35th) that he had initiated, with relays inspired by former Lyon players Bruno Guimaraes and Paqueta.
Guimaraes again stood out with a heavy hit on the bar (43rd). Continuing the action, Girona striker Savio (20 years old) followed another shot repelled by Paraguay goalkeeper Rodrigo Acosta to score his first international goal. A scuffle at the end of the first period was followed by a new goal from Vinicius (45th + 4), taking advantage of a ball messed up by a defender.
Brazil saw Paraguay return to 3-1 after the break with a superb strike from Omar Adelete from 25m after a chest check. Not cooled by his first missed attempt, Paqueta scored from a second penalty (65th), causing joy in the stands for Neymar, injured and not selected for the competition.
Brazil-Colombia duel for first place
Vinicius greeted “a great match” from Brazil, and criticized the organization of the competition, which is taking place in the United States. “The Copa America is always complicated, between the quality of the pitches, the referees and the way Conmebol treats us”he said without going into details.
Thanks to this success, Brazil is 2nd in Group D with 4 points, behind Colombia (6 points), winner of Costa Rica (3-0) earlier in the day and therefore qualified for the quarter-finals. A missed exit by the “ticos” goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira offered a penalty to the Colombians in the first half, converted by Liverpool striker Luis Diaz (31st).
Defender Davinson Sanchez headed in a corner from Jhon Arias (59th), just before Jhon Cordoba’s third goal (62nd), who went deep on the edge of offside on a delicious one-touch pass from James Rodriguez. James Rodriguez had already distinguished himself with two assists in the “cafeteros”‘ inaugural match.
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Brazil will have the opportunity to finish at the top of the group in the event of a victory against Colombia on Tuesday in Santa Clara (California), while a draw would ensure qualification for the quarterfinals, which it has a good chance of reaching even in the event of defeat, given its very favorable goal difference with Costa Rica.
