Brazil 3-1 Peru
Brazil won the 2019 Copa America tonight in Rio De Janeiro with a 3-1 win over Peru in a pulsating ninety minutes of top-class international football.
The Selecao ended a 12-year trophy drought thanks to a superb performance from Gabriel Jesus, making one goal and scoring another. But the Manchester City man’s game was cut short when he received his marching orders midway through the second half.
The Copa America 2019 betting odds have backed the Selecao from the very first kick, and Peru came into the final as long shot underdogs, having trailed Brazil and Venezuela in Group A. But a stunning 3-0 win over Chile in the semi-final propelled the Incas into an unlikely final and they gave it a good shot again tonight.
Highlights of the game
The passion of the Incas and their wonderful fans is something to behold, and the noise they created before the game lifted their team, who were determined to put up a fight. And they started the brighter of the two teams.
When Philippe Coutinho handled under pressure, Christian Cueva lined up the free-kick and sent it inches wide of Alisson’s right-hand post. And on five minutes, Renato Tapia tried his luck from distance but shot wide.
But Brazil awoke, and the 78,000 capacity Estadio do Maracana erupted on 15 minutes when the Selecao scored the opener.
Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus mesmerised two Peru defenders on the right wing and then sent over a beautiful cross, which Everton met at the far post and volleyed past a helpless Pedro Gallese to make it 1-0.
Brazil had the momentum and very nearly made it 2-0 when Roberto Firmino fired a low ball across the Peru six-yard box and Coutinho’s flick skidded narrowly wide.
The Incas stayed in the game, though, and dug their way back into contention when Cueva and Edison Flores combined beautifully. And when Cueva crossed, Thiago Silva’s desperate intervention saw the ball ricochet off his arm and the referee pointed to the spot.
Peru’s all-time top goalscorer, Paolo Guerrero, sent Alisson the wrong way and the underdogs were level.
That goal came in the 41st minute, but Brazil still went into half-time ahead, and it was Jesus who restored the hosts’ lead. Firmino put Arthur through, and his pass was perfectly weighted as the City man fired low into the corner.
Brazil almost took the game away from Peru early in the second half when Coutinho curled a shot inches away from the top-left corner. Then, Firmino planted a header just wide as the favourites hunted for a third.
But the game took a late twist when Jesus, who’d put in a man-of-the match performance, picked up a rather harsh second yellow card to reduce Brazil to ten men for the last 20 minutes.
And straight away Peru went on the front foot, Flores firing a volley just wide from 20 yards.
The Selecao settled back into rhythm, though, and looked comfortable as the minutes ticked away while their fans bit their fingernails. When Carlos Zambrano fouled Everton in the penalty area there was bedlam in the stadium.
VAR heightened the tension but the referee pointed to the spot and Richarlison settled everyone’s nerves with a clinical penalty.
Key statistics
When Brazil thumped Peru 5-0 in the group stages, here at SBOBET we didn’t expect it to be a dress rehearsal for the final. But this was a much better game and Peru deserve credit for playing their part.
It was the Incas’ first appearance in a final since 1975 and they did themselves proud, but Brazil have beaten them again, for the seventh time in succession.
The Selecao love playing in Rio and are now unbeaten at home in 19.
What’s next?
Argentina beat Chile 2-1 in the third-place play-off with goals from Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala, and the Albiceleste is left wondering what might have been. Messi and co are still fuming, claiming the referee played a big part in their semi-final defeat to Brazil.
All the pre-tournament Copa America 2019 news was around the absence of Neymar, but the PSG man wasn’t missed once the Selecao got into their stride. And in Gabriel Jesus, they have a new hero.
So what’s next? Football just keeps on coming folks. Here at SBOBET, we’re following the African Cup of Nations as it reaches a climax, and we’re looking forward to the upcoming campaigns in the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga.
The transfer markets are getting busier by the day and we’ll the there all the way.
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