A Brazilian victory in the very last moments of the match. Long led to the score, Brazil snatched the victory against Colombia (2-1) at the end of the suspense to keep its card full in Copa América, thanks to a goal from Casemiro on a corner from Neymar, Wednesday, June 23, at Rio de Janeiro.
The meeting had started badly for the Seleçao, who had seen the Porto winger Luis Diaz open the scoring in the tenth minute with a splendid acrobatic chisel, the best goal since the start of the tournament.
But the host country managed to pocket its third success in as many games thanks to two headed goals, scored by Roberto Firmino (78th) and Casemiro (90 + 10).
This Brazilian victory was marred by heated controversy. The game had to go until the hundredth minute because of long complaints from the Colombians, who unsuccessfully requested the cancellation of the Brazilian equalizer, referee Nestor Pitana having touched the ball unintentionally during the action.
Brazil remain on a streak of ten consecutive victories in all competitions, even if this time, they conceded a goal, after having kept their clean sheets during six meetings.
Unlike his last four matches in the Seleçao jersey, Neymar did not score, but he hit the post (65th) and therefore found Casemiro’s header from a corner, after the endless ten minutes of added time.
Taking advantage of this Copa America to test new formations for the 2022 World Cup, Tite continued to rotate his squad, with five changes from the match against Peru.
To face Colombia, the toughest opponent in Group B, the Seleçao has found its titular central hinge, with Marquinhos back alongside his former teammate of Paris SG Thiago Silva.
END OF THE GAME! BRAZIL WINDS VICTORY IN THE LAST MINUTE!!
2×1 | #BRAxCOL #VibraOContinent
Photo: @lucasfigfoto / CBF pic.twitter.com/WpWkhA80sh
— CBF Football (@CBF_Futebol) June 24, 2021
At the Nilton Santos stadium, Brazil monopolized the ball early in the match, before being cold picked on the first Colombian attack, concluded by the magnificent chisel of Diaz, on a center of Cuadrado (10th).
Neymar was well muzzled and the only Brazilian to create a semblance of danger was Richarlison, on a shot well captured by Ospina (20th) and another blocked by a defender (41st).
Brazil showed a better face after the break. Entered at half-time, Roberto Firmino equalized on a cross from Renan Lodi, also freshly entered (78th), who inherited the ball after the involuntary deflection of the referee.
Brazil was well helped by this twist of fate, but also by a hand fault from David Ospina.
Before this action, Neymar had started to take his head out of the water, but he was too short on a long opening from Thiago Silva (54th), before finding the post (65th) while he had dribbled the keeper. The PSG striker was able to be decisive at the very end of the game, centering perfectly for Casemiro from a corner.
Already qualified for the quarter-finals before the meeting, the Seleçao remains largely at the top of Group B, with nine points (five more than Colombia and Peru). The Brazilians will play their last match of the first phase on Sunday 27 June, in Goiania, against the Ecuadorians.
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