It didn’t take long for Brazil to ratify their status as favorites in the Copa América Femenina.
The Canarinha, champion in seven of the eight editions of the South American tournament, thrashed Argentina 4-0 on Saturday in the first day of Group B, which is played at the Centennial Stadium in Armenia.
La Albiceleste – the only team that broke the monopoly of the Amazon in the edition played in their country in 2006 – defended with order in the first stage of the challenge. But at 28 minutes, a combination between Bia Zaneratto and Tamires was finished by Adriana to open the scoring.
At 36, Zaneratto caused a maximum penalty for a foul by Ruth Bravo, which she herself was responsible for collecting with her powerful left foot to widen the difference.
Brazil did not miss its great star Marta, winner of six FIFA World Player awards and The Best FIFA in 2018, who is recovering from the rupture of the anterior ligament in her left knee.
At 58, Zaneratto, who has played three World Cups (in 2011, 2015 and 2019) and is considered Marta’s successor, performed an individual maneuver and assisted Adriana to sign her double.
Near the end, Debinha closed the Brazilian rout by finishing a counterattack play.
“It was important to start with a win. We had a very physical opponent, who made a lot of fouls, but we were able to build up the arrivals and the goals”, pointed out striker Bia Zaneratto.
WINE TRIUMPH
In the match that opened Group B, Venezuela beat Uruguay 1-0, thanks to a goal from a free kick by its top figure Deyna Castellanos.
The attacker, who has just been transferred from Atlético de Madrid to Manchester City, managed to break the resistance of the “Celeste” in the 78th minute, with the collection of a foul on the edge of the area.
Until that moment, the “Vinotinto” had had the best chances of the match, but the Uruguayan goalkeeper Sofía Olivera had avoided the fall of her fence with several outstanding interventions.
Castellanos, who holds the record for goals in U-17 World Cups with 11 goals in his appearances in 2014 and 2016, arrived at the tournament with just enough money after suffering tenosynovitis of the right peroneal muscles during the preparation phase.
“I am very happy with the goal and with the result. I am in good condition, I had a long recovery process due to the injury, but with each match I will gain more rhythm”, said Castellanos after the match.
The activity of Group B of the Women’s Copa América, which grants three direct places for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and two for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, will continue on Tuesday with the Uruguay-Brazil and Argentina-Peru matches.
On Monday, the second day of Group A will be played with the duels Paraguay-Chile and Bolivia-Colombia.
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