LAS VEGAS, June 29 (Xinhua) — Vinicius Junior scored twice as Brazil all but secured a spot into the Copa America quarterfinals on Friday with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay.

Real Madrid forward Vinicius netted either side of a Savinho strike before Omar Alderete reduced the deficit with a long-range effort.

Lucas Paqueta made up for an earlier penalty miss by converting from the spot just after the hour as Brazil clinched its first win of the tournament.

The result leaves the five-time World Cup winner second in Group D with four points, two points behind Colombia and three ahead of third-placed Costa Rica. The Selecao also has a plus-three goal difference – six ahead of Costa Rica – with one group-stage match remaining.

Paraguay is already guaranteed of elimination, having lost each of its first two matches.

Paqueta squandered the chance to put his side ahead just after the half-hour at Allegiant Stadium when he sent his penalty attempt wide following an Andres Cubas hand ball.

But he went some way to making amends moments later as his delightful through ball found Vinicius, who dashed away from his marker and slotted a shot below goalkeeper Rodrigo Morinigo.

Girona forward Savinho extended the lead by tapping in from close range after Rodrygo’s shot was parried clear by Morinigo.

Brazil’s confidence grew by the minute and it extended its lead on the stroke of halftime through Vinicius, who stabbed home a first-time effort after Alderete’s errant clearance.

Paraguay emerged from the interval with a renewed sense of purpose and Alderete atoned for his earlier error by controlling a high ball with his chest and thumping an unstoppable 25-yard drive into the bottom-right corner.

But Brazil continued to attack and it was awarded another penalty when Mathias Villasanti was deemed to have blocked Savinho’s attempt on goal with his left arm.

Paqueta again stepped up for the spot-kick and this time the West Ham midfielder calmly chipped his shot into the bottom right corner.

Paraguay was reduced to 10 men nine minutes from time after Cubas’ studs up challenge on Douglas Luiz earned the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder a straight red card.

Brazil controlled the match thereafter as it put its campaign back on track following a goalless draw with Costa Rica last Monday.

Earlier, Colombia booked a place in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica, a result that extended the Cafeteros’ winning sequence to 10 games.

Source(s): Xinhua

PHOENIX, June 28 (Xinhua) — Colombia secured a place in the Copa America quarterfinals on Friday with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica, a result that extended the Cafeteros’ winning sequence to 10 games.

Liverpool forward Luis Diaz put his side ahead from the penalty spot at State Farm Stadium after Jhon Cordoba was brought down by Patrick Sequeira.

Galatasaray’s Davinson Sanchez doubled advantage with a towering header following Jhon Arias’s corner.

Colombia put the game beyond doubt just after the hour when James Rodriguez’s sublime one-touch pass released Cordoba, who smashed a first-time effort into the far corner.

“We have a great group of players that are giving all they have for the team,” Diaz said afterwards. “We are slowly moving towards our objective, step by step, but we know there will be some tough games ahead.”

In addition to stretching the Cafeteros’ winning streak, the result continued an unbeaten run that has now reached 25 games. The South American team has not lost since a 1-0 defeat to Argentina in February 2022.

Colombia’s final group match will be against Brazil in Santa Clara, California, on Tuesday. Costa Rica must win its clash with Paraguay the same day to have any chance progressing to the last eight.

Source(s): Xinhua

NEW JERSEY, June 27 (Xinhua) — Darwin Nunez extended his rich vein of form as Uruguay secured a place in the Copa America knockout phase on Thursday with a 5-0 victory of Bolivia.

Facundo Pellistri gave the Celeste a perfect start at MetLife Stadium by nodding home from close range in the eighth minute after Ronald Araujo’s headed cross.

Nunez doubled the lead as he ran onto Maximiliano Araujo’s through ball and lashed a first-time effort past goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra. The Liverpool striker now has 10 goals in his past seven international appearances.

Araujo then latched onto Nicolas de la Cruz’s perfectly weighted pass by slotting a shot that ricochetted in off Viscarra’s legs.

Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde made it 4-0 by expertly directing the ball into the bottom-left corner after Pellistri’s cross from the right side of the penalty area.

Rodrigo Bentancur, an 86th-minute replacement for Valverde, completed the rout when he headed home at the far post after Giorgian de Arrascaeta’s floating cross from the left flank.

Uruguay is now guaranteed a berth in the quarterfinals while Bolivia will be eliminated, irrespective of the result of the team’s last group match against Panama on Monday.

Earlier, Panama kept alive its hopes of reaching the Copa America’s last eight with a 2-1 victory over the United States in Atlanta.

Source(s): Xinhua