Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Group D soccer match of the Conmebol Copa America 2024 tournament between Paraguay and Brazil at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 28, 2024.
Photo: AFP – FREDERIC J. BROWN
At the futuristic Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Brazil beat Paraguay 4-1 and recovered guided by an unleashed Vinicius Jr., scorer of two goals and protagonist of arguments and shoving with various Paraguayan players.
The Real Madrid striker, the great figure of the match, scored twice in the 35th and 45th+4 minutes, while Savinho in the 43rd minute and Lucas Paquetá with a penalty kick in the 65th minute completed the Brazilian victory.
Omar Alderete scored in the 48th minute for Paraguay, which became the second team eliminated from the Copa América after Jamaica.
In this way, Brazil came in second place with four points, two behind Colombia, which it will face on Tuesday on the last date.
Costa Rica, with one point, still has minimal chances of qualifying, but to do so they will have to beat Paraguay on Tuesday in Austin, the capital of Texas, and hope that Colombia defeats Brazil to surpass them on goal difference. At the moment Brazil has a +3 balance and the Ticos -3.
How was the Colombia match?
Colombia beat a faded Costa Rica 3-0 on Friday and secured its place in the quarterfinals of the Copa América 2024, on the second date of Group D.
The tricolor of James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz, which already has 25 undefeated games, passed above the eleven Ticos in the hot Glendale, in Arizona, and with six points joined Argentina (Group A) and Venezuela (B) in the second round of the continental tournament.
‘Lucho’ Díaz from a penalty at 31 minutes, defender Davinson Sánchez at 59 and striker Jhon Córdoba at 62 scored the goals for Colombia that will define the leadership of Group D against the five-time world champions next Tuesday at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, in California.
