Wessel Antes
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Brazil failed to beat Colombia in their last group match of the Copa América: 1-1. The Selection took an early lead thanks to a goal from Raphinha (FC Barcelona), but Crystal Palace defender Daniel Muñoz decided the final score before half-time. As a result, Brazil faces a difficult encounter with Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay, without star player Vinícius Júnior.
Coach Dorival Júnior's team needed to win on Tuesday night to finish first in Group D. Raphinha, along with Real Madrid stars Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior, formed the attack that had to provide the necessary goals.
Former Ajax player Davinson Sánchez played central defence in Colombia, coached by Néstor Lorenzo. Star players James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz were also the eye-catchers in the starting eleven of the number twelve in the world ranking. Luis Sinisterra once again had to settle for a role as a substitute.
Brazil got off to a false start when Vinícius Júnior put his hand in James Rodríguez's face during a duel, earning the Ballon d'Or contender a yellow card, his second of the tournament, which will see him miss the next match due to suspension.
James Rodríguez spectacularly hit the crossbar from a great distance with the resulting free kick. In the twelfth minute, the other side did score, when Raphinha was allowed to take a free kick from about twenty metres. Goalkeeper Camilo Vargas tried to get his hand behind the left-footer's effort, but could not prevent the ball from ending up high in the net: 1-0.
Galatasaray defender Davinson Sánchez thought he had equalized shortly after, but his header was disallowed for offside. Just before half-time, Vinícius Júnior hoped to earn a penalty, but Venezuelan referee Jesús Valenzuela did not accept his claim.
In the final seconds of the first half, Colombia finally equalized, when Munoz was the final stop of an excellently executed attack: 1-1. After the break, Brazil went in search of victory, but Colombia managed to defend the draw with aplomb and thus ended up as the group leader in Group D.
Colombia will now face Panama in the quarter-finals, while Brazil will face Uruguay, who are in good shape at the Copa América, in a more difficult duel on paper. Dorival Júnior will have to do without Vinícius Júnior in that duel. Costa Rica did manage to win the other duel in Group D against Paraguay, but both countries have been eliminated from the Copa América.
Costa Rica – Paraguay 2-1
3' 1-0 Francisco Calvo (assist: Joseph Mora)
7' 2-0 Josima Alcocer (assist: Jefferson Brenes)
55' 2-1 Ramon Sosa (assist: Mathias Villasanti)
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