Brazil survives Colombia scare to qualify for Copa quarterfinals from Group A

Brazil laboured to a very controversial 2-1 win over Colombia in their Group A Matchday 3 encounter at the Olympic Stadium in Rio De Janeiro in their Copa America 2021 clash.

Colombia took the lead after just 10 minutes through FC Porto forward Luis Diaz before the quality of the Selecao eventually shone through, albeit with a lot of controversies. First, the referee interfered with play in the build-up to Roberto Firmino scoring an equaliser for the Selecao after 78 minutes. The referee’s touch of the ball made the Colombian players stop as they waited for the whistle to go, but the referee allowed Brazil to continue, and they went ahead to score. Casemiro scored the match-winner 10 minutes into second-half stoppage time as he guided home a corner from Neymar at the near post. The Selecao have qualified for the quarterfinals already, having won all of their opening three matches.

In the group’s other game, Ecuador and Peru played a 2-2 draw. An own goal from Renato Tapia and a goal from Ayrton Preciado put Ecuador two goals up before Gianluca Lapadula and Andre Carrillo equalised for Peru to earn them one point from the fixture.