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Brazil's national team defeated Paraguay 2-1 this Friday and took first place in Group A, in the last match before the final phase of the South American U-20 Championship. Both teams arrived at the Estadio Deportivo Cali in Palmira (southwest) classified and with equal points. Paraguayan coach Aldo Bobadilla and his counterpart Ramon Menezes rotated their lineups and gave minutes to the substitutes.
In the 22nd minute, Olmedo Alcaraz made a long pass and found Kevin Pereira. The midfielder controlled, ran with the ball, and shot in the area in front of the Brazilian left-back, who couldn't reach him.
The ball deflected off a center-back and went into a small gap between the post and Paraguayan goalkeeper Kaique Pereira. In the 30th minute, Stênio Zanetti claimed his place in the starting lineup by scoring the equalizer in a quick offensive play by the Brazilian team through the center.
The Cruzeiro forward started the championship in Menezes' starting eleven but gradually lost his spot. In the second half, Brazil picked up the pace and turned the score around with Ronald's goal. The midfielder headed the ball in after a mistake by the Paraguayan goalkeeper, who let the ball pass on a corner kick.
Star player Vitor Roque came on at the end of the match, while Andrey, one of the figures of the South American Championship, did not get any minutes. In a simultaneous match, Colombia defeated Argentina 1-0 and secured the third and final spot for the next round.
The position of the teams in the group stage only determines their schedule for the final hexagonal, which starts on Tuesday in Bogotá. The six best teams will play a round-robin tournament in the altitude of the Colombian capital.
AFP.
Brazil vs. Paraguay: lineups and incidents
But Ramon Menezes' team showed character and equalized thanks to their captain Andrey, who silenced the stands of the Pascual Guerrero Stadium in Cali with a header just before halftime (43rd minute).
Brazil vs. Paraguay: schedule and TV channels
- Peru: 5:00 p.m. / DIRECTV Sports
- Colombia: 5:00 p.m. / GOL Caracol TV
- Ecuador: 5:00 p.m. / DIRECTV
- Venezuela: 6:00 p.m. / DIRECTV
- Paraguay: 7:00 p.m. / Tigo Sports
- Argentina: 7:00 p.m. / TyC Sports
- Chile: 7:00 p.m. / Canal 13
- Brasil:
It is worth noting that, led by forward Diego González, the Paraguayan national football team defeated Peru 1-0 on Monday and became the first team to secure their spot in the final hexagonal of the South American U-20 Championship held in Colombia.
With this defeat, Peru, who suffered their third consecutive loss, has been eliminated from the possibility of advancing to the next phase. They were defeated by Colombia (1-2) in their first match and then succumbed to the powerful Brazil (0-3), completing their third defeat against Paraguay.
The goal, which gives Paraguay hope for one of the four spots that the South American Championship offers for the World Cup in Indonesia in May, was scored by González with a perfect header after an accurate pass from Matías Segovia. It was the 35th minute.
Brazil vs. Paraguay: probable lineups
Brazil: Mycael; Arthur, Jean Pedroso, Robert Renan, Patrick; Giovane, Andrey Santos, Marlon Gomes, Guilherme Biro; Alexsander, Vitor Roque.
Paraguay: Ángel González, Alan Núñez, Gilberto Flores, Thiago Servin, Alexis Cantero, Nelson Gauto, Ariel Gamarra, Leonardo Rolon, Matías Segovia, Diego Gonzalez y Allan Wlk.
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