Brazil complicated their task on Friday, with an expulsion that made them play almost the entire second half with 10 units, but they beat Chile 1-0 and are in the semi-finals of the Copa América.
In Rio de Janeiro, a goal by Lucas Paquetá, 47 minutes in, seconds after entering the field, earned the qualification of the hosts and title holders, who knew how to suffer, in a game in which they were never ‘suffocated’ by the Chileans.
Even so, Gabriel Jesus’ haraquiri, who was sent off in the 49th minute, shortly after the goal, with a completely ‘decontextualized’ entry on Mena, could have come out face to face with the ‘Canarinhos’, as Chile had a chance to tie.
Among more or less clear opportunities, the highlight was two shots made by substitutes launched by the Chileans, a header to the bar by substitute Brereton, on 69 minutes, and a ‘shot’ by Meneses saved by Ederson, on 78.
The Brazilians, with Neymar always very important in the art of getting the ball and creating danger practically alone, could also have reached the second goal, namely by the PSG player (67 minutes), having justified the triumph.
With this victory, Brazil, in search of the 10th title, will meet Peru again in the semi-finals on Monday (became Paraguay on penalties), who beat in the 2019 final by 3-1 and thrashed in this edition 4-0, in the group stage.
The match started balanced and very disputed in midfield, with the two teams having many difficulties in getting close to the opposing goals, with only highlight, in the first 20 minutes, by the shots by Vegas (10) and Richarlison (15).
Brazil created the first opportunity in the 22nd minute, with Neymar centering from the left and Firmino missing the deflection, at the far post, and Chile responded in the 27th minute, in a counterattack conducted and finished by Eduardo Vargas for a difficult defense by Ederson.
In the final part of the first half, the ‘Canarinhos’ achieved some ascendancy, with Danilo shooting over, on 32 minutes, Sierralta canceling a deflection by Neymar, on 37, and Gabriel Jesus shooting hard to Claudio Bravo’s showy defense, at 43.
For the second half, Tite launched Lucas Paquetá and couldn’t have been happier, as Firmino’s replacement scored after 47 minutes: the Lyon player scored with Neymar and, after a poor Vegas cut, was isolated, won Medel and hit Bravo.
Brazil couldn’t have started in better shape, but shortly after, on 49 minutes, Gabriel Jesus had a karate entry on Mena and saw the straight red card.
With another one, Chile took over the game, often settling near the ‘canarinha’ area, but facing a host team that never gave up on the counterattack, with Neymar almost scoring the second goal, in the 67th minute .
La roja’s response came in the 69th minute, with Mena centering from the left and Brereton, who came on at half-time to replace the returning Alexis Sánchez, heading the bar.
Chile again had a great opportunity in the 78th minute, with a ‘shot’ by the newcomer Meneses, who Ederson defended by instinct, and, in the 81st minute, Carlos Palacios, another substitute launched in the second half, shot wide.
In the ‘over’ 90 minutes, Brereton and Vargas failed to shoot and, in the six minutes of added time, when Benfica player Everton entered (at 90+1, instead of Richarlison), Palácios still appeared well placed, but shot a lot badly, at 90+6.
– .
