A goal after an accidental pass from the referee and another in the tenth minute of injury allowed Brazil to continue with a perfect record in the Copa América, coming back and defeating a Colombia 2-1 on Wednesday that went ahead with a prodigious goal and that ensured their ranking.
Luis Fernando Díaz scored as a Chilean in the 10th minute, but Roberto Firmino crowned the play that included the controversial accidental intervention of referee Néstro Pitana. After a corner in the throes of the match, Casemiro gave the hosts victory.
Colombia came to caress the top of Group B when they had the advantage. Despite falling, they are awarded the classification by their four points and their goal difference compared to Peru, which has the same units.
The Coffee selection will surpass Peru or Venezuela, which are measured on Sunday in the last date, in which Colombia will rest. Brazil, which has a perfect harvest of nine points and has secured the top of the key, closes against Ecuador, which has two units, the same as Vinotinto.
Against a Brazil that reached the match already qualified, Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda bet on defensive strength in search of controlling a team that had scored goals in the first two rounds. The strategist placed a 4-4-2 formation, with Davison Sánchez and Yerry Mina as centrals, and William Tesillo and Daniel Muñoz as laterals.
With this, he prevented Neymar and company from finding clarity to put together plays in the early stages. Instead, it was Colombia that had the first opportunity and capitalized on it.
Juan Guillermo Cuadrado sent a long cross from the right wing towards the vicinity of the small area, where Diaz, the Porto winger, made the acrobatic throw to beat goalkeeper Weverton in the 10th minute.
Disgruntled after receiving their first goal in the tournament, the Brazilians stepped up pressure on David Ospina's goal with poor results: a couple of options from Richarlison, who sent a header over the top and smashed a shot from behind.
Coach Tite intervened at half-time, retiring Éverton Ribeiro at the wheel for Roberto Firmino, who was slow to make an impact but ended up leveling the match at Estádio Nilton Santos, with the help of the whistler.
Neymar tried to send a deep pass near the area's balcony, but the ball hit Pitana in the abdomen, who demanded to continue the play. Éverton Ribeiro seized the ball and served it for Renan Lodi, who sent a cross from the right wing.
Firmino, the Liverpool forward, came full throttle to head down. Ospina fumbled with the ball but allowed it to slip into the nets.
Angry complaints came from the Colombian players against Pitana for long minutes. The time lost in that controversy and in the video review ended up costing Colombia more later.
In added time, Neymar executed the corner kick and Casemiro crowned the somersault on the scoreboard.
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