DBasia.news – The 2021 Copa America is nearing the end of the competition in the group stage. Two matches in week four will take place Thursday (24/06) between Ecuador vs Peru and Brazil vs Colombia.
The four-goal drama took place at the Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico between Ecuador and Peru. Ecuador were unable to maintain the lead despite having gone 2-0 up in the first half from own goals by Renato Tapia (23′) and Ayrton Preciado (45+3′).
Ricardo Gareca’s Peru came back in the second half and equalized from goals from Gianluca Lapadula (49′) and Andre Carrillo (54′). Both teams are equally hopeful of qualifying for the knockout phase.
Both have just played their third match in Group B, Peru is in third place with four points and Ecuador is in fourth place with a collection of two points, and Venezuela is in the bottom position with two points.
Meanwhile at the Olympic Stadium, Brazil struggled to win 2-1 over Colombia after trailing 0-1 to Luis Diaz’s goal in the 10th minute. Brazil responded and perfected the comeback through goals from Roberto Firmino (78′) and Casemiro (90’+10′).
Casemiro’s goal was dramatic, but Firmino’s goal was controversial as referee Nestor Pitana inadvertently interfered with the Selecao’s movement when the ball hit him.
As if to stop the game, the Colombian players stopped and the Brazilian players continued to move until Firmino’s goal was scored.
“Two goals for Brazil is a different situation,” Colombia referee Reinaldo Rueda told reporters. “First of all, I think the refereeing situation caused a disturbance to the players.”
“Brazil had to go out looking for the game, they had good circulation of the ball and the players who came in had influence and that’s why it was possible (the second half was different).
“But we were sharp and in the end it is a pity that the result was not achieved.”
The result puts Brazil at the top of Group B with nine points from three matches (perfect points from three wins), while Colombia is in second place with four points.