Brazil 0-0 (4-3 on pens) Paraguay
Brazil is through to the semi-final of the Copa America after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over a stubborn and courageous Paraguay.
Gabriel Jesus fired home the decisive kick to break Paraguay’s hearts and keep Brazil’s title dreams well and truly alive.
Tonight’s big game — expected to produce Copa America 2019 highlights — was a clash of the highest and lowest ranked teams left in the competition. 33 places separate the two in the FIFA World Rankings but nothing separated them after 98 minutes.
Having finished third in Group B, Paraguay squeezed through to the knockout phase thanks to a draw between Japan and Ecuador. But head coach Eduardo Berizzo can be delighted with his team’s efforts to deny the Selecao in open play; particularly those of man-of-the-match keeper Roberto Fernandez.
The Copa America 2019 betting odds had Brazil at 1.19 to win, but tonight they could so easily have gone out.
Highlights of the game
In the frantic opening exchanges, Paraguay delivered the first couple of blows. In the very first minute, Derlis Gonzalez took a pass from Junior Alonso and hammered his shot just wide of the post; then Hernan Perez had an effort from outside the box charged down.
Brazil responded and when Dani Alves found Roberto Firmino in the middle of the penalty area, the Liverpool man fired straight at Roberto Fernandez. The Paraguay goalkeeper was called into action again when Gabriel Jesus fed Everton and he let fly from 20 yards.
The game settled down as Brazil took control of the ball and patiently probed at the Paraguay defence. Philippe Coutinho got free in the penalty area but headed a Filipe Luis cross wide of the post. But the underdogs were still intent on competing and when Perez passed to Gonzalez, he brought a superb save from Alisson as he shot towards the top right corner.
Firmino had a header blocked and Coutinho forced a save from Fernandez with a smart shot from a tight angle.
The Selecao kept up the pressure in the second half and when Firmino linked up with Coutinho; Fernandez made another fine save as the Barca man’s shot headed for the bottom right corner. Then on 55 minutes, Brazil thought they had a breakthrough when Firmino fell under a challenge from Fabian Balbuena and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
After three agonizing minutes, VAR intervened and the spot kick was cancelled.
Brazil piled on the pressure and Dani Alves was denied by the brilliant Fernandez and both Coutinho and Thiago Silva had efforts saved. Fernandez kept a long range effort from Arthur out, and then Gabriel Jesus came very close with a shot from the centre of the penalty area.
As the minutes ticked by Brazil continued to bang on the Paraguay door, but Fernandez was there time and time again, saving from Alex Sandro and then, on 90 minutes Willian let fly from outside the box but his shot cannoned back off the post.
Paraguay made it to the penalty shootout lottery:
Alisson saved the first Paraguay effort, stopping Gustovo Gomez’ low shot. And Willian, denied by the woodwork in the last minute, slotted home his spot kick to make it 1-0 to Brazil.
The next five penalties all found the net but then Roberto Firmino missed his spot kick to let Paraguay back in the game; but with a chance to draw level, Derlis Gonzalez fired his shot wide.
That gave Gabriel Jesus the chance to fire Brazil through and the Manchester City man scored in the bottom corner, cool as you like, to prompt bedlam in the stadium.
Key statistics
Brazil finished their group stage with a bang, hammering a very decent Peru side 5-0. But they simply couldn’t break Paraguay and their brilliant goalkeeper down. The Selecao peppered their opponents with 25 shots in normal time.
Previous Brazil vs Paraguay results have not always gone the way of the Samba Boys. Paraguay has been Brazil’s bogey team, and have beaten the Selecao twice before at this stage of the tournament, on penalties. In fact, four of the past five meetings have ended in a draw in 90 minutes.
So the favourites will be delighted and relieved to get this one out of the way.
What’s next?
The winner of Venezuela vs Argentina awaits Tite’s team now.
It will be no walk in the park for the under pressure Argentina who were beaten by Venezuela in a friendly as recently as March. But with Sergio Aguero looking sharp and Leo Messi yet to hit his usual heights the Albiceleste will start as clear favourites and the latest SBOBET odds reckon we’ll have a Brazil-Argentina semi-final.
That would be some game!
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
