Football United

Group C

Brazil 4-1 Costa Rica


Adriano

Brazil quieted the critics with its offensive exploits in their 4-1 win over Costa Rica. Adriano led the way with a hat trick. In the process the Selecao booked passage into the quarterfinals, and they lead Group C with six full points. Costa Rica, meantime, are all but eliminated from the Copa America. Brazil had the first quality chance of the match after a poor giveaway in midfield by Costa Rica. Adriano fired a 30-yard laser that missed the far post by centimeters in the twelfth minute. The Ticos struck back shortly after, but Steven Bryce shot right at Julio Cesar from the top right corner of the penalty area. Midway through the first half a great sequence of one-touch passes by Costa Rica shredded the yellow defense, but the cross just missed the jump of Bryce at the back post. Costa Rica had most of the run of play for the first quarter of the match, but Brazil began to take over the final quarter hour of the first half. The Selecao struck a vicious blow to the Costa Rican psyche just before halftime. Adriano showed glorious touch after getting in behind the Ticos to trap down a long ball from beyond midfield. Then the Inter Milan forward dribbled past the sprawled Ricardo Gonzalez before firing the ball into the roof of the net from 15 yards on forty-five minutes. Juan doubled the lead five minutes into the second half. A deft touch from Alex sprung the Bayer Leverkusen defender behind the Ticos’ defense for a rare foray into the opposite penalty area. Juan had no problems slotting the ball past poor Gonzalez. Costa Rica fought back quickly, but once again Julio Cesar made a brilliant save on Bryce’s wicked volley. But the dangerous chance failed to spark the Ticos as Adriano headed in his second goal of the match in the 55th minute to ensure the Auriverde’s place in the final eight. Gonzalez came off his line to punch a corner kick but missed everything, and Adriano was left with a wide-open goal. Adriano then punctuated the victory with his hat trick in the 68th minute. Luis Marin brought a bit of honor to the Ticos, when he kicked in a loose ball on a corner kick. And Julio Cesar was forced to tip over Andy Herron’s impressive volley with a few minutes left to thwart the mini comeback.

BRAZIL: Julio César; Mancini, Luisão, Juan, Gustavo Nery; Renato, Kléberson (Diego), Alex, Edu (Dudu Cearense); Adriano, Luis Fabiano (Vagner Love).

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

GOALS: 1-0, Adriano (49'); 2-0, Juan (49'); 3-0, Adriano (54'); 4-0, Adriano (67'); 4-1, Luis Marín (81')

Paraguay 1-1 Chile



Paraguay came from behind to draw Chile 1-1 in Group C action. The result gives the Paraguayns four points, good enough for second place behind Brazil. Barring a win by either Chile or Costa Rica on Wednesday and a horrible result against Brazil, Paraguay can book their place in the final eight. Sebastian Gonzalez atoned for his penalty miss against Brazil, by firing Chile into the lead in the 71st minute. Gonzalez slid to meet midfielder Mauricio Aros' cross to beat goalkeeper Justo Villar. But Ernesto Cristaldo equalized with a left-footed rocket from distance in the 78th minute to give Paraguay a share of the points. Up until Gonzalez's opener, and finally Cristaldo's wonder-strike, the match proved to be a snorefest for the fans when compared to Brazil's and Costa Rica's exciting appetizer.

PARAGUAY: Justo Villar; Carlos Gamarra; Ernesto Cristaldo, Pedro Benítez, Derlis González; Edgar Barreto, Diego Figueredo (Dante López), Carlos Paredes, Aureliano Torres; Freddy Bareiro (Emilio Martinez), Nelson Haedo (Julio dos Santos).

CHILE: Claudio Bravo; Luis Fuentes, Rodrigo Pérez (Mauricio Aros), Ismael Fuentes, Rafael Olarra; Clarence Acuña (Rodrigo Millar), Rodrigo Valenzuela, Milovan Mirosevic, Rodrigo Meléndez; Sebastián González, Patricio Galaz (Moises Villarroel).

GOALS: 0-1, Sebastián González (11'); 1-1, Ernesto Cristaldo (78')

GROUP C STANDINGS

Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Brazil 2 6
2. Paraguay 2 4
3. Chile 2 1
4. Costa Rica 2 0