Vinicius Junior scored a first-half brace and Brazil woke from its slumber with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday night in Las Vegas to put its Copa America campaign back on track.
The Real Madrid star vaulted into a five-way tie for the tournament goal scoring lead (two apiece) with the performance, which drew high praise from manager Dorival Junior.
“Today he played an almost perfect match,” the manager said, through an interpreter. “He created very good situations, opportunities, he was dynamic, effective, very straightforward and direct. And playing with other players and teaming up very well.”
Lucas Paqueta converted a second-half penalty kick — keeping Vinicius Junior from a potential hat trick — after missing from the spot in the first half as the nine-time tournament champions moved alone into second place in Group D.
Savio also scored before halftime for Brazil (1-0-1, 4 points), which would top the group if it defeats Colombia (2-0-0, 6 points) on Tuesday in Santa Clara, Calif.
The win was Brazil’s first in six competitive fixtures and first competitive victory for Dorival Junior, who was hired in January. It followed a stunning 0-0 draw against Copa Rica to open the tournament on Monday.
Omar Alderete scored for Paraguay (0-2-0, 0 points), which was eliminated in the group phase for only the second time since 2001. Both of those came in expanded, 16-team events played in the United States.
“I don’t think this is our reality,” said Paraguay manager Daniel Garnero, through an interpreter. “We have players that have a level that is superior to the results. We are focusing on the results, and the result was terrible — we are not finding the net. … But the responsibility for the result in this Copa America is my own.”
Andres Cubas was sent off late in the defeat for violent conduct after winning a free kick in Brazil’s half.
Paraguay will finish its tournament on Tuesday in Austin, Texas, against Costa Rica (0-1-1, 1 point), which still has a mathematical — if remote — chance of reaching the quarterfinals.
Brazil’s Alisson made five saves, including two crucial interventions in the opening half hour before his team got on the board.
“In the first half, up to the 40th minute, it was very even,” Garnero said. “I think we created some opportunities. Unfortunately, in (stoppage time) we got a bit destructive and unfortunately they scored the two goals that made a great difference in the result.”
Paqueta flubbed Brazil’s first clear chance to take the lead in the 31st minute when he sent his penalty wide of the target after his previous shot from outside the box struck Cubas’ arm.
Vinicius Junior put his team in front four minutes later on a wonderful, left-to-right attacking move that he started from near the left corner of the penalty area.
Bruno Guimaraes and Rodrygo both had touches before Paqueta provided the return ball onto the feet of Vinicius Junior, who rounded goalkeeper Rodrigo Morinigo before finishing into an open goal.
Savio was in the right place to put home a rebound in the 43rd minute. In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Vinicius Junior was rewarded for his pressure with his second goal when he intercepted a pass from Alderete deep in his own box and finished into an open net.
Alderete ruined Brazil’s shutout bid in the 48th minute before Paqueta’s successful penalty kick in the 65th minute capped the scoring.
“Maybe we didn’t have the ball possession we had in the last match,” Dorival Junior said, “but our effectiveness was greater. And I think we challenged the opponent in every sense.”
–Field Level Media
