Paraguay shoot Brazil out of Copa America
LA PLATA: Brazil became the second big team in the Copa America 2011 to crash out in the quarterfinals stage as Paraguay defeated the defending champions on a penalty shootout and set date with Venezuela who upset Chile 2-1 here Sunday.
Justo Villar. Courtesy: Reuters
Brazil forwards once again failed to score goals, not even on penalties, while Paraguayan strikers also couldn’t execute their chances and kicked all of their chances away from the target as the match remained goalless after the regular period.
With this defeat, Brazil have joined their arch-rivals Argentina in exiting the Copa America 2011 in the quarterfinals stage. It is pertinent to mention here that Uruguay had defeated Argentina on penalties the other day to start the big names-killing game.
Paraguay beat Brazil on Penalties. Courtesy: Reuters
Brazil had a huge number of chances to score goals both in regular as well as extra time but they failed to find the target while Paraguayan goalkeeper and captain Justo Villar played one of his best games in the tournament to thwart all the shots coming at his goal.
In penalty shootout, it all went out of the hands of Brazil who missed their three penalties while Paraguayan goalkeeper saved the fourth one while Paraguay scored on two of the three they shot which was enough for them to put an end to Brazilian dominance in the South American soccer world.
Paraguayan fans. Courtesy: Getty Images
Paraguay’s Argentine coach Gerardo Martino told reporters, “Brazil should have won, probably in the 90 minutes. We managed to clear two balls off the line and our goalkeeper other (chances). We played a totally different match from what we would have liked… It would be great to be able to say we planned it like that but all we can say today is there was a lot of sacrifice, heart, a good percentage from the goalkeeper and lots of luck.”
For Brazil, the goalscorers of the other night, Neymar and Alexandro Pato, missed their penalties while Lucas Leiva and Paraguayan Antolin Alcarez were showed exit way after they fought with each other towards the end of extra time.
Nelson Haedo Valdez. Courtesy: Reuters
Paraguay will now face off against Venezuela, who have proven wrong all the soccer pundits with their brilliant performance and have come this far for the first time in their soccer history, in the semifinal of the Copa America 2011 after they upset Chile by 2-1 in the last quarterfinal played in San Juan.
With this last quarterfinal, the Copa America 2011 semifinals line-up has been completed with three of the top title contenders, i.e. Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, all exiting in the quarterfinals stage.
The battle is now between Uruguay, Peru, Paraguay, and Venezuela which guarantees a brand new South American Champion this year.
Thiago Silva. Courtesy: Getty Images
Uruguay is one team that is chasing their record 15th Copa America tile and are pitted against Peru, who are never considered a tough team, in La Plata on Tuesday, a game that ensures best South American soccer.
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