Luis Diaz’s opener from the spot and two second half goals against Costa Rica kept Colombia at the top of the standings while a Vinicius Jr. brace helped Brazil rebound in a big way over Paraguay.
COLOMBIA 3, COSTA RICA 0
Colombia showed their opening match was no fluke and continued their excellent play right from the start with Diaz spearheading an early chance in the 7th minute on a back post cross that blazed over the bar though could have come last off a defender.
In the 20th minute Diaz delivered a cut back cross into the middle that James Rodriguez thought was destined for the net only to be parried away by Ticos keeper Patrick Sequeira (2 saves) at full stretch through traffic.
Sequeira however could only have himself to blame near the half hour mark when he came off his line to bundle over Colombia’s Jhon Cordoba at the edge of the area when his defender Francisco Calvo had the play covered. Diaz stepped up and dispatched the penalty into the upper back corner and a 1-0 lead.
Colombia then put the game away an hour in with a pair of goals, Davinson Sanchez nailing a header from Jhon Arias into the top corner in the 59th and three minutes later Cordoba ran onto a Rodriguez through ball to send the third into the far side netting.
Costa Rica’s 0-for-5 shooting night meant Camilo Vargas made no saves in the shutout win.
BRAZIL 4, PARAGUAY 1
This was the Brazil we expected to see in the first game, though it was Paraguay that nearly struck first in what could have been disastrous fashion for the Selecao.
Damian Bobadilla cranked a shot from outside the box only for Eder Militao to get a wicked deflection on it as he attempt to head the ball away. Luckily, Brazillian keeper Alisson (5 saves) was able to adjust and parry away the shot for a corner.
The floodgates nearly opened for Brazil an hour in, when a long range shot by Lucas Paqueta was judged to have been handled by Paraguay’s Andres Cubas. Paqueta stepped up but his stutter step PK was pushed wide for a miss.
That did not stop Brazil as Vinicius Jr finished off a nifty short range passing combination by rounding Paraguayan keeper Rodrigo Morinigo (2 saves) for the opener. Eight minutes later Bruno Guimaraes blasted a shot off the crossbar and Costa Rica could only clear to midfield, setting up a recycled play for Brazil. Rodrygo got another shot off from close range with Morinigo making the initial save, only for his defense to fluff a clearance with Savio finishing Brazil’s second from close range.
Vinicius would add Brazil’s third in slightly bizarre fashion, in extended first half stoppage time due to a lengthy pause for a dustup. An over the top ball to Rodrygo led to a 50/50 battle with Paraguay centerback Omar Alderete, and while the defender won the challenge, his turning touch was right into the path of Vini following up the play and essentially a standing block led to a smart near post finish.
Alderete would make amends right after the halftime whistle, where in the 48th minute he chested down a partially cleared cross from thirty yards out and unleashed a laser of a half volley into Alisson’s lower corner. Paqueta would make amends for his first half penalty miss, with another handball whistled in the 62nd minute, as he finished his stutter step run up into the back corner.
Paraguay would finish with 10-men when Cubas was judged to have kicked out after a foul against him in the 81st minute but the 4-1 result was not much in doubt.
Brazil’s ability to get shots in close range was something they sorely lacked against Costa Rica, but their 6-for-17 shooting night was a substantial improvement. Paraguay finished with 6-for-15 shooting but the majority of their shots coming from outside the box.
Copa America 2024 Group D Primer: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay
GROUP OVERVIEW
The wins by the two favorites still has Colombia in the driver’s seat to win the group, though Brazil can overtake them with a win in their finale matchup. A Cafeteros win or draw will see them top the group. Costa Rica can still advance with a win, a Brazil loss, and enough goals to swing what is currently a goal difference of six. Paraguay has been eliminated as they can not get above four points with one match remaining.
The Group D finales will take place on Tuesday, July 2nd at 9 pm EDT with Brazil-Colombia from Santa Clara, CA and Costa Rica-Paraguay from Austin, TX.
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Publish date : 2024-06-29 11:51:51
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