In a stunning comeback, Colombia held off Brazil 1-1 Tuesday to make it through into the Copa America as group winners. An equalizing goal from Daniel Munoz in first-half stoppages was all Colombia needed to share the spoils after the opening strike by Raphinha, which had put Brazil ahead with an excellent, clinically taken 12th-minute free-kick at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
This leaves Colombia advancing to the knockout rounds as winners of Group D, in which they will play runners-up of Group C Panama in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday.
But Tuesday’s draw pitted Brazil in a titanic showdown in Las Vegas on Saturday against arch-rivals Uruguay, who won Group D with a perfect record.
Raphinha, who scored a goal for Brazil, argued that the five-time world champions would shrug off being pitted against Uruguay.
“Our team is evolving with each game, with each training session and we think we’re on the right track,” Raphinha said.
“Unfortunately it wasn’t the result we wanted, and it wasn’t the position that we wanted to qualify for the quarter-finals in.
“But whoever wants to be champion shouldn’t be worrying about who they play in the next round; we have to be prepared for any team.
“If we want to take this competition seriously then we have to be ready to give it our all.”
Vinicius Jr out–
Brazil will go into the quarter-finals devoid of Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. The 19-year-old has been shown his second yellow card of the event for a wild early foul on James Rodriguez on Tuesday.
Playmaker Rodriguez gave them a huge scare from the following free-kick, his effort clipping the top of the bar, with Alisson beaten.
But while Colombia had the better start, it was Brazil who took the lead after 12 minutes – the impressive Raphinha bending a brilliant free-kick into the top corner to make it 1-0.
But Colombia refused to go away, Rodriguez volleying over the bar on the turn after 16 minutes.
Rodriguez thought he had created Colombia’s leveller three minutes later, delivering a pinpoint cross from a right-wing free-kick for Davinson Sanchez to convert.
The goal was scrapped for offside following a VAR review.
Tempers threatened to boil over midway through the first half, with Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela showing three yellow cards in quick succession to Colombia’s Deiver Machado and Jefferson Lerma, plus Brazil’s Joao Gomes.
The Colombians were clearer in their belief throughout the first half, and their nice play in added time paid off through the skilful left wing-back Munoz of Crystal Palace, who rifled in after being released by a superb pass from veteran forward Jhon Cordoba.
Colombia — who have now gone 26 international games unbeaten since a defeat to Argentina in early 2022 — were comfortable through the second half and really ought to have wrapped up victory in the final minutes but substitute Rafael Borre shot over from eight yards with the goal gaping.
In Tuesday’s other Group D game Costa Rica defeated Paraguay 2-1 in Austin to finish in third place.