Copa America 2020 Group B: USA Advance Despite Seven Goals from Brazil

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

USA Advance Despite Seven Goals from Brazil

June 28, 2020

USA 2 Paraguay 1

 

The United States of America pulled off a giant victory against Paraguay to ensure their place in the Copa America Quarter Finals, while Brazil ended third despite scoring seven goals to one against Jamaica.

 

The Americans, facing an undefeated Paraguay, and swapped Antonee Robinson (Besler) for Sergino Dest. Paraguay did not change their line-up.

 

Carlos González had an early miss as Paraguay craved momentum into the Quarter Finals, and so attacked early. Paraguay then spread the US defence, only to come up short of any future shots.

 

Ángel Romero earned a yellow card for his late challenge on the ball, but that did little to deter the striker as he worked time after time down the left wing. However, it was Miguel Almirón who had the next attempt on goal saved.

 

Soon, Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams put pressure up forward, with the latter heading a corner and nearly opening the scoring.

 

After the break, Pulisic went on a run and scored for the USA, as he left footed with ease into the back of the net.

 

Right on the hour mark, Richard Sánchez’s shot needed a diving save, where the ball was tipped up to the post before being cleared.

 

The Americans fought down their right midfield to no avail. Then, González levelled the match with a brilliant shot outsmarting the diving American goalkeeper.

 

With ten minutes left, American substitute Ricardo Pepi had two shots saved, and Pulisic had his shot blocked. Sebastian Lletget earned a yellow card for his desperate efforts, before Pulisic combined with Brenden Aaronson at the death to set up substitute Paul Arriola for the best header possible, and the ball hit the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line and bouncing back over.

 

It was the best way to enter the Quarter Finals, knowing the result in the other match was obsolete, and halting the might of Brazil in reaching the knockout stages.

 

Jamaica 1 Brazil 7

 

Gabriel Barbosa and Fred swapped for Brazil’s third match. As for the front three, Gabriel Jesus had some time on the bench so Neymar can have an impact, as a win was the only outcome to help Brazil progress. Jamaica, meanwhile, replaced Blair Turgott with Bobby De Cordova-Reid, but the rest remained.

 

Neymar scored in the tenth minute, heading home with a cross coming in from the left wing. He then scored two minutes later as he ran rings around the Jamaican defence and gave nothing to them, except a solid right foot shot into the back of the net.

 

Daniel Johnson produced a choice header, only to have Edison Moraes make the necessary save.

 

Brazil’s Douglas Luiz earned a yellow card for a late challenge, and Jamaica seemed to hold firm against the might of the Brazilians. In fact, Jamaica went on to score, chipping the Brazilian goalkeeper as Shamar Nicholson gave Jamaica a little glimmer of hope.

 

However, Neymar had a hat trick right on halftime, and gave Brazil the boost they needed, as well as the necessary buffer.

 

Pulisic’s goal in the other match, however, changed the mood as the Brazilians and they tackled with little regard. Éverton managed a yellow card for his late sliding tackle. A cross from the left wing brought about an own goal off Damion Lowe, giving Brazil a 4-1 lead.

 

González’s goal in the other match meant Brazil would go through to the Quarter Finals. Neymar had a fourth goal of his own as he ran beyond the Jamaican defence and toed the ball along the ground.

 

Roberto Firmino had a chance to score, only his header missed the mark. His substitute, Vinícius Júnior, missed by miles. Fred also had a sliding shot, only for Andre Blake to make the save.

 

Neymar tried for his fifth, only to have too much pressure on him. Instead, Fred headed home number six, a convincing victory over Jamaica, who were tipped to be their closest rivals in the group.

 

Then, as the match neared the end, reports came through of the late American goal, and Brazil’s heads dropped, even with Neymar’s fifth goal.

 

The only consolation from the match is Neymar being in the running for the Golden Boot award with his five goals.

 

The USA will now tackle Guatemala in the Quarter Finals, and then Paraguay take on Mexico as both South American nations of Group A miss out.

 

 

	Group B	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Paraguay	3	2	0	1	6	+3
2	USA	3	1	2	0	5	+1
3	Brazil	3	1	1	1	4	+5
4	Jamaica	3	0	1	2	1	-9