Casemiro made deep into the stoppage time to see Brazil earn a hard fought and controversial victory over Colombia in Group B at the Copa America.
The hosts went behind to Luis Diaz’s amazing acrobatic volley after just ten minutes after a brilliant post from the right delivered by Juan Cuadrado.
Luis Diaz, what exactly did you do ?! # CopaAmerica #bbcfootball
– BBC Sport (@BBCSport) 24 June 2021
Although he dominated possession for the rest of the match, Brazil struggled to break a stubborn Colombian defense but eventually drew levels under controversial circumstances when the ball hit referee Nestor Pitana in the build-up to Roberto Firmino’s equalizer in the 78th minute.
According to the rules, if a deflection by the referee leads to “a change of possession or a promising attack”, a release ball should be awarded. Just six seconds after the ball hit the Argentine official, the ball was in the back of David Ospina’s net and it is clear that Neymar’s pass would have been intercepted had it not been for the official’s unintentional intervention.
What followed were long protests from the Colombian players but despite their appeals the goal was given. Despite all his anger towards the officials, however, Ospina should have done much more to deny the ball that crosses the line.
As if the visitors did not already feel that the world was against them, they continued to let in the tenth minute of stoppage time and failed to defend a corner from which Neymar picked out Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro who drove a head from close range. .
Colombia may feel quite down on their turn given the defeat, but they have already qualified for the quarterfinals. The victory meant that Tite’s side kept their 100% record in the competition as far as they seem to keep their Copa America crown.
Elsewhere, Peru came from two goals behind to earn a point against Ecuador. A draw means that both sides still have a chance to advance to the last eight.
Renato Tapia’s own goal saw Ecuador take the lead for 23 minutes and they added a second in the first half when Ayrton Preciado came on at the end of a free kick to turn in from close range.
Ecuador seemed to be crossing towards their first victory of the tournament but two second half goals in five minutes saw them hung back by the Peruvians. In the absence of their talismanic forward Paolo Guerrero, Gianluca Lapadula stepped up whose second half screen was a joy to watch.
BRAZIL NO TOPO?
Assim ficou grupo B, apos a terceira rodada da CONMEBOL # CopaAmérica? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? # VibraOContinente
BRAZIL ARRIBA?
If so, Group B, what about the third part of CONMEBOL # CopaAmérica? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? # VibraElContinente pic.twitter.com/nZVp7Ig5kx
– Copa América (@CopaAmerica) June 24, 2021
He closed the deficit to just a lone goal when he completed Christian Cueva’s perfect pass in 49 minutes. The Benevento striker then became a supplier when he set up Andre Carrillo to make the equalizer just minutes later.
Ecuador meets Brazil in their last group game while Peru meets Venezuela, with Group B going all the way down to the thread.
