{"id":69977,"date":"2021-06-28T15:41:08","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T15:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=69977"},"modified":"2021-06-28T15:41:08","modified_gmt":"2021-06-28T15:41:08","slug":"ecuador-hold-brazil-to-reach-copa-america-quarters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=69977","title":{"rendered":"Ecuador hold Brazil to reach Copa America quarters"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Sports Desk:<\/strong> An Ecuador side fighting to keep their Copa America hopes alive managed to hold a previously perfect Brazil — playing without a resting Neymar — to a 1-1 draw Sunday and reach the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n

Peru meanwhile defeated Venezuela 1-0 in the other Group B match to send the Covid-decimated “Vinotinto” team packing from the South American championships.<\/p>\n

Seeking to extend a 10-match winning streak, Brazil came out pressuring in Goiania on the group's final match day.<\/p>\n

Coach Tite opted to rest Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar, but the “Selecao” still dominated the first half.<\/p>\n

A free kick in the 37th minute set up Eder Militao, who headed the ball at a sharp angle into the top right corner of the net, well clear of Ecuador keeper Hernan Galindez's outstretched arm.<\/p>\n

But facing the specter of an early exit, Ecuador came out fighting in the second half.<\/p>\n

They got the equalizer in the 53rd minute, as Brazil tried to clear a corner kick.<\/p>\n

Enner Valencia managed to head it back the other way, setting up Angel Mena, who sprinted in to fire the ball past Brazil's Alisson.<\/p>\n

“We played a good first half where we managed to impose our style of play. The first half was much better than the second,” said Brazil defender Marquinhos.<\/p>\n

“Now we're in the decisive part, the knock-out stage, so we have to work on playing our best football for the full match.”<\/p>\n

– Peru turnaround –<\/p>\n

Peru meanwhile finished the group stage on a high note after a spectacular turnaround.<\/p>\n

The Incas opened the tournament with a 4-0 thrashing by Brazil.<\/p>\n

But they went on to defeat Colombia, then battle back from 2-0 down against Ecuador Wednesday to secure a draw.<\/p>\n

They added three more points Sunday thanks to Andre Carrillo, who capitalized on Venezuela's clumsy failure to clear a corner in the 48th minute in Brasilia.<\/p>\n

“Peru shouldn't give up what we've been working on. I think we've shown our ability to fight back throughout the Copa America,” said Argentine coach Ricardo Gareca.<\/p>\n

Brazil finished the group stage as heavy favourites with 10 points from four matches — three points clear of runners-up Peru in Group B.<\/p>\n

Colombia finished third with four points and Ecuador fourth with three.<\/p>\n

Venezuela joined Group A side Bolivia as the two teams eliminated from the group stage.<\/p>\n

Group A have one more round of matches Monday, when Uruguay play Paraguay and Bolivia face Argentina.<\/p>\n

With the final eight already decided, the real stakes will be deciding whether Chile or Uruguay face defending champions Brazil in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sports Desk: An Ecuador side fighting to keep their Copa America hopes alive managed to hold a previously perfect Brazil — playing without a resting Neymar — to a 1-1 draw Sunday and reach the quarter-finals. Peru meanwhile defeated Venezuela 1-0 in the other Group B match to send the Covid-decimated “Vinotinto” team packing from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":69978,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n