3.07.2021 04:47
(Akt. 3.07.2021 04:50)
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Peru beat Paraguay on penalties at Copa America
©APA/AFP
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Peru and defending champions Brazil are in the semi-finals of the Copa America. The Brazilian “Seleção” around superstar and returnees Neymar defeated Chile 1-0 (0-0) in a hard-fought quarter-final match at the Estádio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro on Friday evening (local time). The Peruvian national soccer team had previously eliminated Paraguay in the first quarter-final match in the central Brazilian city of Goiânia in a penalty shoot-out. After 120 minutes it was 3: 3 (2: 1).
For Brazil, Lucas Paquetá scored almost immediately after the restart after a fine interaction with Neymar. Gabriel Jesús saw the red card just a minute later after a dangerously high leg against Chile’s Eugenio Mena. Chile, which started with recovered star Alexis Sánchez, played well organized and had a lot of possession. A goal by Eduardo Vargas for the South American champions from 2015 and 2016 was not recognized due to video evidence due to offside.
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Brazil will now meet Peru’s selection in the semifinals – the final opponent of 2019, who defeated Paraguay on penalties in an emotionally charged first quarter-final with two suspensions. After 120 minutes it was 3: 3 (2: 1). The goals for Peru in regular time were scored by Gianluca Lapadula in the 20th and 39th minutes and Yoshimar Yotún (80th). Defender Gustavo Gómez, who was sent off at the end of the first half after receiving the second yellow card, gave Paraguay the lead (10th). In the meantime, Júnior Alonso equalized for Albirroja to 2: 2 (53rd), Cristiano Ávalos to 3: 3 (88th).
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The reference to the field for the Peruvian André Carrillo (83.) also gave Paraguay momentum. In the penalty shoot-out, however, Peru’s goalkeeper Pedro Gallese saved Alberto Espínola’s penalty – and Miguel Trauco finally pocketed the decisive penalty (4-3) for the Andean country.
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A few weeks before the start of the tournament, first Colombia and then Argentina dropped out as the host. In Colombia there have been bloody protests against the government for weeks, Argentina was hit hard by the second wave of the corona pandemic. For these reasons, the South American Football Association Conmebol moved the South American Championship to Brazil, which led to widespread criticism. In Brazil, more than 18.6 million of the country’s 210 million residents have been infected with the coronavirus, and almost 522,000 people have died in connection with Covid-19.
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Other competitions such as the Brazilian soccer championship are also held, the Copa America takes place without an audience. According to Conmebol, at least 166 corona infections have been found so far – most of them with logistical support staff.
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