Brazil 3-0 Bolivia
The Copa America is up and running and Brazil has sent a message to their rivals with a clinical 3-0 win in the tournament curtain-raiser against Bolivia in Murumbi.
After a subdued first half, Philippe Coutinho scored twice as the Selecao swept their visitors aside in the second 45 minutes. Brazil warmed up for this game with a thumping 7-0 win over Honduras. And while they looked at ease against a workmanlike Bolivia side, their failure to break the deadlock prompted some boos in the stadium.
They are a passionate lot these Brazil fans, they love their football, expect goals to flow and demand entertainment, but tonight patience paid off as their team turned up in the second half. For Bolivia, it was a case of damage limitation and they must now dust themselves off before they move on to two winnable games.
The Copa America 2019 betting odds were compelling in the belief that Tite’s team would start off with a win; eventually, they delivered in style. The hosts were at 1.087 to take the three points, and 2.04 with a -2.50 goal handicap… and that’s where the value turned out to be, but only after Everton had added a spectacular late third.
Highlights of the game
With PSG star Neymar out injured and unlikely to feature in the competition, this game was a chance for Tite’s other stars to take centre stage and it was Barcelona’s unsettled star Coutinho who stepped up after the break.
After a spectacular opening ceremony, the Selecao dominated the first half with over 75 per cent possession, but they struggled to fashion out a clear cut opportunity which frustrated the home fans no end. Thiago Silva headed a decent chance wide and Casemiro tried his luck with a speculative effort, but the teams went into the break level at 0-0.
Despite holding on until half time, Bolivia looked out of their depth. The underdogs have only one player with a truly impressive CV, Marcelo Martins’ dad played for Brazil and he represented the Samba Boys at Under-20 level. But his side was overshadowed by their hosts as Coutinho struck twice soon after the break.
The deadlock was broken on 50 minutes as the ball was fired into the Bolivia penalty area where Adrian Jusino stuck an arm out and was judged by VAR to have handled. The home fans celebrated and Coutinho took the responsibility to fire coolly home into the bottom left corner to settle any remaining nerves in the stadium.
The first half frustration was a distant memory just eight minutes later when Brazil broke, and Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino stood up a delightful cross for his former club mate to head home at the back post for his 16th international goal, and that was that.
Everton climbed off the bench to put the icing on the cake with just six minutes to play, making space for himself and then unleashing a pile-driver from the edge of the box to send the San Paulo fans home happy.
Key statistics
This opening day win puts Brazil in charge of Group A; the Copa America 2019 news is off to the start everyone expected and the passionate home nation hoped for.
Tite’s side is hoping for a ninth Copa title and their first in 12 years. They have won the competition on the previous four occasions they have hosted it, most recently in 1989.
The second half blitz gave the Selecao their 100th Copa America victory.
The Selecao has now won five of the last nine contests with Bolivia, with three drawn, and the underdogs have one win to their name against Brazil since 1930. The result was never in doubt after Coutinho’s second-half double strike.
But the defeat makes it eight games without a win for Bolivia, and that’s a worry for head coach Eduardo Villegas as he prepares for the next challenge.
What’s next?
Brazil are the favourites to win the tournament and — on this second half performance — there’s no reason for their fans to worry. Though it did take Tite’s men a while to get going.
Next, they move on to a contest with Venezuela on Wednesday at the Itaipava Arena Fonte in Salvador. Bolivia faces Peru in Rio de Janeiro, and after this defeat, that’s a must-win game for Villegas or they face early elimination.
As the Copa America 2019 results start to roll in, all will become clear but, for now, it’s the perfect start for Brazil.
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