Copa America 2020 Group B: Positive Paraguayan Start to Copa America Against Jamaica

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Copa America Group B Matches

Positive Paraguayan Start to Copa America Against Jamaica

June 20, 2020

Paraguay 3 Jamaica 0

 

Jamaica, looking to pounce early on the match and gain the upper hand, as they worked mostly down the left wing. However, both sides played defensively, trying to negate any real advances down the field. Though Jamaica had the first shot, a long cross that was more on target with the goal than the intended player on the right wing, it was Paraguay who scored first in the 42nd minute. Miguel Almirón was on fire down the left flank, outsmarting two Jamaican defenders, before crossing to Ángel Cardozo Lucena, who quickly moved the ball to Carlos González. The striker made no mistake and gave Paraguay the lead.

 

That goal opened the floodgate, as Mathias Villasanti needed two attempts at goal before snagging Paraguay’s second. He was found with a lovely through ball and tried chipping Andre Blake, only for the goalkeeper to punt the ball back to Villasanti. From there, the midfielder worked into a better angle and shot again into the open goal.

 

After the break, Richard Sánchez shot from a tight angle, only for Blake to make the necessary save.

 

Villasanti went for his second goal in the 65th minute, working into the box then cutting back onto his left foot. Blake was again able to make the save, parrying away for a corner. Ángel Romero rose above the rest from the corner, only to miss to the right of goal.

 

Right back Santiago Arzamendia tried when the ball came out to him from a corner clearance, only he was unable to gain enough power on the shot. However, González rose above the rest from the resulting corner and scored the second of his brace, looping the header over Blake and into the back of the net.

 

Frustration in the Jamaican ranks led to a yellow card for Shamar Nicholson as Paraguay worked the ball around to keep Jamaica away from the ball. From there, Paraguay earned the same scoreline as Colombia did on the opening day, and gave them the best possible start for the Copa America.