SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo challenged his crew to remain sharp and energized via each bodily and emotional second in opposition to mighty Brazil, all through two scorching-hot halves of soccer and practically one other 10 minutes of stoppage time.
“This was a match that all of us wished to have our robust moments of play, and I feel we’ve got taken one other step ahead,” Lorenzo mentioned. “With Brazil, you can’t be careless not even one second.”
Daniel Muñoz scored the tying aim within the first-half stoppage time, and Colombia gained its first-round group on the Copa America with a 1-1 draw in opposition to Brazil on Tuesday night time that prolonged its unbeaten streak to 26 video games.
Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas saved Brazil’s remaining probability on a shot by Andreas Pereira within the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.
Colombia performs Panama in a quarterfinal on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, whereas Brazil fell into what seems to be a tougher sport in opposition to Uruguay later that night time at Las Vegas.
“It will likely be a troublesome sport in opposition to Uruguay, however additionally they know they may have a troublesome sport in opposition to Brazil,” Brazil coach Dorival Júnior mentioned.
Los Cafeteros, who completed with seven factors to Brazil’s 5, had back-to-back scoring possibilities within the 84th minute however couldn’t capitalize.
Brazil went forward within the twelfth minute when Raphinha launched a left-footed free kick into the higher proper nook of the web simply above the outstretched hand of Vargas.
The Brazilian winger jumped and pumped his fist because the seasoned Seleção struck first at Levi’s Stadium, dwelling of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.
Gamers placed on an entertaining present within the Group D finale, with Brazil’s Bruno Guimarães calling Colombia “a stone in our shoe” within the lead-up to Tuesday.
“There’s a way of satisfaction after enjoying such a robust opponent,” Lorenzo mentioned. “Now we want to consider Panama.”
What was anticipated to be a tense, foul-filled match greater than lived as much as that hype, that includes 5 yellow playing cards as a sea of jerseys of the identical coloration representing each nations packed the seats — as soon as the followers lastly acquired inside, that’s. Some scanning tools grew to become extremely popular and slowed the entry course of.
A crowd of 70,971 attended the sport, and the 24 group-stage video games drew 1,115,400 for a mean of 46,475.
The Bay Space is going through an extreme warmth warning and the temperature at kickoff was 98 levels — although about half the sphere on one sideline was shaded.
Within the eighth minute, James Rodríguez had Colombia’s finest early probability when he hit the bar on a left-footed shot on a direct free kick from outdoors the penalty space He had one other shot within the sixteenth that sailed excessive.
The midfielder, who turns 33 on July 12, has three assists this match for Los Cafeteros.
“It was like a remaining. It was tremendous aggressive sport,” he mentioned. “It’s such a thrill going through star gamers. It’s the gorgeous a part of all this. … There’s nonetheless a variety of work to do and on Saturday we’ve got to return out and play very targeted.”
Brazil, a crew so accustomed to chasing championships on this occasion, faces a more durable street with no win in opposition to Colombia.
The Seleção have captured 9 Copa titles and had been runner-up within the 2021 match.
Colombia already had secured its spot within the quarterfinal spherical and has a 26-match unbeaten streak — together with a 5-1 victory in opposition to the U.S. in a pre-tournament pleasant, whereas Brazil then settled for a 1-1 draw with the People 4 days later in one other tuneup.
Colombia beat Brazil 2-1 final 12 months within the South American qualifiers and their first assembly since three matchups in 2021, when Brazil topped Colombia 2-1 within the Copa America.
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