Home Football 2019 Copa America: Brazil get the tournament running with Bolivia win

2019 Copa America: Brazil get the tournament running with Bolivia win

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Photo: Bildbyran

The 46th edition of the Copa America began with hosts Brazil registering a convincing 3-0 win over Bolivia thanks to a brace from Philippe Coutinho and a goal from Everton. Brazil started well and had some early chances to score. Their first big chance during the first half came in the 11th minute when Philippe Coutinho’s corner found an unmarked Thiago Silva whose header went wide. Neymar’s absence was felt in the first half as Brazil weren’t able to cash in on the chances they received and the score was goalless.

However, around 85 seconds into the second half, a shot from Richarlison saw the ball rebounding off the hands Bolivian defender Adrian Jusino. Referee Nestor Pitana who officiated the World Cup Final last summer, referred VAR and awarded Brazil a penalty. Up stepped Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho and shot past Bolivian keeper Carlos Lampe to score the first goal of the 2019 Copa America. This was the second time in three Copa America editions that the tournament’s opening goal was a penalty.

Just two minutes later, Roberto Firmino crossed in for Coutinho who netted his second of the game. The Barca man who was the subject of immense criticism lately could not have asked for a better outing in his 50th appearance for Brazil and this was Coutinho’s first brace for Brazil since his hat-trick against Haiti at the previous edition of the Copa America three years back.

With the way Brazil kept on attacking, Bolivia’s main focus was to thwart the attempts of the Brazil forwards rather than attack themselves. The Bolivian defence tried hard and were often able to block the shots taken by the Brazilian attackers. However, Brazil’s attack was too fierce and it eventually found them a third goal as substitute Everton shot a brilliant curling shot to score his first international goal.

At the final whistle, it was joy for Brazil, disappointment for Bolivia. The way Brazil kept on attacking will certainly send a chill down the spines of Peru and Venezuela who play tonight at Porto Alegre. Philippe Coutinho could not have asked for a better start to the tournament as apart from the goals, he had a passing accuracy of 93.5%, creeated 5 chances and completed 5 crosses. With Neymar, Coutinho is willing to make the tournament his own and provides he performs like this in every game, that is a possibility.

Brazil’s next match of the tournament is against Venezuela at Salvador on Tuesday while Bolivia take on Peru at the iconic Maracana that very day. Today, two Copa America matches will take place. First, Venezuela play Peru at Porto ALegre before the highly anticipated clash between Argentina and Colombia at Salvador.

Also Read: How to watch Copa America 2019

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