Brazil crashed out of the Copa America, Dunga’s side losing 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes. Brazil are eliminated in the quarterfinal stages of the competition on penalties to Paraguay for the second consecutive time.
Brazil started the game brightly in the opening few minutes, Coutinho forcing a save out of Villar in the second minute. Coutinho’s powerful strike from distance asking questions of the Paraguay goalkeeper early on.
Brazil took the lead in the 15th minute thanks to Robinho. The winger was left unmarked in the area as he got on the end of a cross from Dani Alves and tapped home at the back post to give Brazil the lead. Robinho’s first international since 2010 to put his side in front.
Despite looking promising in the opening minutes of the game, Brazil began to lose possession easy and allowed Paraguay into the game, Diaz’s looking dangerous on the counter on numerous occasions.
Despite Paraguay being the better of the two sides going into the break, Brazil were a goal up thanks to the finish from Robinho in the 15th minute, but aside from the goal Brazil had very little to celebrate about as Dunga’s side looked poor as the Paraguayans looked more energetic and up for the game.
Paraguay came close to leveling in the early stages of the second half, a free kick in a dangerous area was struck towards the near post but Jefferson was there to cover get behind the powerful effort.
Paraguay continued to search for the equaliser, Nelson Valdez’s header in the 56th minute from a corner on the right hand side just went over the bar, Paraguay getting ever closer to finding the leveler.
Jefferson was once again forced into action as a corner was sent into the near post, Paulo Da Silva was there to get on the end of the deliver and he directed his header towards the bottom corner but Jefferson was there to deny the defender with a good save, pushing the ball wide.
Paraguay eventually were gifted with the chance to level the game, Thiago Silva was judged to have handled the ball in the box as he challenged Roque Santa Cruz for an header, despite protest from the Brazilians the penalty was awarded.
Derlis Gonzalez stepped up and found the bottom corner with a powerful effort, a brilliant penalty from the forward, Jefferson was unable to reach the ball despite diving the right way.
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Paraguay nearly look the lead in the 79th minute, good work from Gonzalez down the right hand side as he created space for himself in the box, but his effort was denied at the front post from Jefferson.
The game finished 1-1 and the game had to be decided on penalties.
Fernandinho, Miranda and Coutinho all made no mistake for Brazil as they converted their penalties, but Everton Ribeiro and Douglas Costa failed to convert for Brazil therefore gifted Derlis Gonzalez to send Paraguay into the semi finals, and he did just that, sending Jefferson the wrong way with a superbly struck penalty.
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Paraguay eliminate Brazil on penalties for the second Copa America in a row at the quarter final stages, despite being the better side it was one of the most surprising results at the competition so far. As for Paraguay, a deserved result after a great performance, Derlis Gonzalez keeping his nerve and finding the back of the net twice with two important penalties to send Paraguay into the semi-finals to meet Argentina for a place in the final.
