Football United

Group C

Costa Rica 0-1 Paraguay



Costa Rica looked to have earned a 0-0 draw with Paraguay until substitute Fredy Barreiro collapsed at the slightest of contact from Mauricio Wright. It was enough to convince Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz, as he did not hesitate to award the decisive penalty. Paraguay gradually found their true form in this contest after a dismal first half performance. Costa Rica seemed to catch Paraguay by surprise in the early going with their fluent passing play, as Andy Herron and Ronald Gomez looked dangerous all evening. Gomez came close to breaking the deadlock in the 22nd minute but his left-footed volley was parried at the by goalkeeper Diego Barreto. Barreto was called into action again four minutes later as he saved another close range shot from Gomez. As time wore on neither side seemed able to produce the entertaining football we have grown accustom to in the matches prior to his one. However, the arrival of substitute Dos Santos provided Paraguay with a pacey attacking threat down the right flank, and Paraguay created a several scoring chances as a result of the tactical switch. The best chance fell to Carlos Paredes, but the Reggina anchorman saw his close range header sail agonizingly over the bar. No worries in the end for Paraguay, who in the end got the result they were aiming for and now have a realistic chance of advancing from the group. Meanwhile, Costa Rica face an uphill battle as their two remaining matches are against Chile and Brazil.

COSTA RICA: Ricardo Fonseca; Luis Marín, Leonardo González, Try Benneth, Mauricio Wright; Walter Centeno, Cristian Badilla, Steven Valerio, Duglas Sequeira; Ronald Gómez (Alonso Solís), Andy Herrón (Alvaro Saborio).

PARAGUAY: Diego Barreto; Emilio Martínez, Carlos Gamarra, José Devaca (Pedro Benitez), Ernesto Cristaldo; Jorge Britez (Julio dos Santos), Edgar Barreto, Diego Figueredo (Freddy Bareiro, Carlos Paredes; Aureliano Torres, Nelson Haedo.

GOALS: 0-1, Julio dos Santos (85',pen)

Brazil 1-0 Chile


Luis Fabiano

Luis Fabiano headed in the winner off from a corner kick in the 90th minute to give Brazil all three points and move them into a tie for first place in the group with Paraguay. Chile had their fair share of scoring chances but none greater than when they were awarded a penalty kick in the 24th minute. Sebastian Gonzalez converted the initial attempt but the match official ordered a retake because Chilean players had entered the box before the ball was struck. A gutsy call from the match official because Gonzalez blazed his second shot over the crossbar. Both teams created several scoring chances and the match could have gone either way.

BRAZIL: Julio César; Mancini (Maicon), Luisão, Juan, Gustavo Nery; Renato, Alex, Edu, Dudu Cearense (Diego); Adriano (Ricardo Oliveira), Luis Fabiano.

CHILE: Alex Varas; Luis Fuentes, Rodrigo Pérez, Rafael Olarra; Clarence Acuña, Rodrigo Valenzuela, Moisés Villarroel, Jonathan Cisternas (Luis Gimenez), Milovan Mirosevic, Rodrigo Meléndez; Sebastián González (Hector Mancilla).

GOALS: 1-0, Luis Fabiano (90')

Source: goal.com, conmebol.com