Copa America 2020 Group B: Paraguay Gain Upper Hand Over Faulty Brazilians

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

Paraguay Gain Upper Hand Over Faulty Brazilians

June 24, 2020

Paraguay 2 Brazil 1

 

Paraguay shocked Brazil with a 2-1 victory, and progression to the Quarter Finals, in their second match of the Copa America 2020.

 

Brazil swapped Fred, Neymar and Renan Lodi out of the line-up of their draw against the USA. Paraguay, meanwhile, remained unchanged.

 

Brazil had the upper hand early, earning corner kicks aplenty. The second corner set up Éverton with a brilliant chance, only to fire over the bar.

 

Instead, Paraguay took the lead through Miguel Almirón, who chipped the Brazilian goalkeeper, Edison Moraes, and Paraguay could sense automatic qualification for the Quarter Finals in their grasp.

 

Richarlison replied instantly as he took on the Paraguayan defence, before shooting low with his left foot out of the reach of the Paraguayan goalkeeper.

 

In the 30th minute, Richarlison tried from long range, only to miss to the right of goal. He also had a header go the other side, though this was a tough shot with the added pressure and the tight angle.

 

Brazil looked to spread Paraguay’s defence, but it came to nothing as the halftime break ended all level.

 

Paraguay went on the attack early in the second period, with Carlos González needing an Edison Moraes save, before Ángel Romero’s follow-up was blocked and cleared.

 

Instead, Romero set up Richard Sánchez, whose shot needed a diving Edison Moraes on his best. Sánchez then set up González with a half volley, but the ball sailed to the right of goal.

 

Brazil got the ball in dangerous territories but were unable to capitalise. Again, Edison Moraes needed a deft save as Ángel Cardozo Lucena took a shot for Paraguay from just outside the box.

 

Paraguay’s double substitution nearly brought about a goal, as Gabriel Ávalos set the ball to a running Gaston Giménez, only for Edison Moraes to make the necessary save.

 

Then, with ten minutes left, Ávalos stole the ball off the Brazilian defence and curled the ball with his left foot nice and low and into the back of the net.

 

The lead was all Paraguay needed to ruffle the Brazilians, who brought on Neymar for their left back in the hopes of at least drawing the match. Instead, Paraguay counterattacked and both Ávalos and Robert Rojas hit the crossbar in roughly the same spot, as the match came to an end. Paraguay celebrated their second win from two games, and a definite spot in the Quarter Finals.

 

Gabriel Barbosa will return to the bench for the third game, possibly where Fred will take back his place in the side. As for the front three, Gabriel Jesus will have some time on the bench so Neymar can have an impact, as a win is the only outcome to help Brazil progress.