The much-debated, much-changed Copa America finally got underway in Brazil on Sunday, June 13. Brazil and Colombia both started their campaigns by putting three points each on the board.
After complicated month-long discussions over the organization of the tournament, Copa America finally began in Brazil on June 13. The hosts took on Venezuela in the opening game, which boasts a new format for the first time. Four of the five teams in each group will qualify for the last eight, meaning that the group stage will result in the elimination of only two teams. Brazil took a big step towards securing their place in the knockout round already.
Brazil’s talisman Neymar was in scintillating form from minute one, playing on the left side of a front three. He nearly registered two assists within the first ten minutes; his outside-of-the-boot through ball spurned by Richarlison before Eder Militao flicked a cross wide.
Richarlison did make up for his miss, though, by playing a crucial role in Brazil’s opener. The Everton forward flicked the ball towards the danger zone following a corner before Marquinhos bundled it home to give Brazil the lead.
Tite’s men kept applying the pressure and were duly rewarded in the second half when Danilo was brought down inside the box. Neymar stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistakes to double his team’s lead. The PSG forward turned provider for Brazil’s third – and final – goal of the night.
He slipped past the Venezuelan defence, took the ball away from the onrushing goalkeeper, and then laid it on a plate for substitute Gabriel Barbosa. Gabigol, as he is known, was left with the easiest of finishes.
Colombia matched Brazil’s result in Group A, albeit not by the same scoreline. Reinaldo Rueda’s team recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Ecuador, thanks to a wonderfully worked free-kick routine. Edwin Cardona played a one-two with Juan Cuadrado from the free-kick while continuing his run into the box. Cuadrado clipped the ball into the area, which Miguel Borja brought down into the path of Cardona, who smashed it past the goalkeeper.
Colombia will play Venezuela in their next match while Brazil will face Peru.
