Luis Diaz scored a simply splendid goal on Wednesday night in the Copa America match between Brazil and Colombia. Unfortunately, the Colombians, who nevertheless led, lost to Neymar and company thanks to a goal from Casemiro on a corner from the PSG striker in Rio de Janeiro.
The match had started badly for the Seleçao, who had seen the winger of Porto Luis Diaz open the scoring in the tenth minute with a splendid acrobatic chisel, the best goal since the start of the tournament.
But the host country managed to pocket their third success in as many games thanks to two headed goals, scored by Roberto Firmino (78th) and housemour (90+10).
This Brazilian victory was marred by heated controversy. The game had to go until the hundredth minute because of long complaints from the Colombians, who unsuccessfully requested the cancellation of the Brazilian equalizer, the referee Nestor Pitana having touched the ball involuntarily during the action.
Brazil remain on a streak of ten consecutive victories in all competitions, even if this time, they conceded a goal, after having kept their clean sheets during six meetings.
Unlike his last four matches in the Seleçao jersey, Neymar did not score, but he hit the post (65th) and therefore found Casemiro’s header from a corner, after the endless ten minutes of added time.
Taking advantage of this Copa America to test new training for the 2022 World Cup, Tite continued to rotate their squad, with five changes from the game against Peru.
To face Colombia, the toughest opponent in Group B, the Seleçao has found its titular central hinge, with Marks back alongside his former Paris SG teammate Thiago Silva.
At the Nilton Santos stadium, Brazil monopolized the ball early in the match, before being cold picked on the first Colombian attack, concluded by the magnificent chisel of Diaz, on a center of Cuadrado (10th).
Neymar was well muzzled and the only Brazilian to create any semblance of danger was Richarlison, on a strike well captured by Ospina (20th) and another counter by a defender (41st).
Brazil showed a better face after the break. Entered at half-time, Roberto Firmino equalized on a cross from Renan Lodi, also freshly entered (78th), who inherited the ball after the involuntary deflection of the referee.
Brazil was well helped by this twist of fate, but also by a hand fault from David Ospina.
Before this action, Neymar had started to take his head out of the water, but he was too short on a long opening from Thiago Silva (54th), before finding the post (65th) while he had dribbled the keeper.
But he was able to be decisive at the very end of the game, centering perfectly for Casemiro from a corner.
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