Copa America: Brazil bounce back; Colombia in quarterfinals
Colombia top Group D with six points after two matches, with Brazil in second on four points.
Colombia top Group D with six points after two matches, with Brazil in second on four points.
Colombia top Group D with six points after two matches, with Brazil in second on four points.
Brazil's Vinicius Junior scored twice in his side's Copa America 4-1 victory over Paraguay in a Group D clash in Nevada on Friday, bouncing back from a lacklustre display in his first game of the tournament.
The Real Madrid attacker posed a constant threat down the left flank and scored the opener in the 35th minute as he slotted home Lucas Paqueta's first-time pass to finish off a flowing team move.
Girona winger Savio doubled nine-time champions Brazil's advantage after pouncing on a rebound inside the box, before Vinicius stuck out a boot to divert a clearance from Omar Alderete into the net and notch up his second goal of the night in first half stoppage time.
Paraguay got a goal back after the break as Alderete netted a superb long-range effort, but any hopes of a comeback were swiftly nipped in the bud when Paqueta scored from the spot in the 68th minute, making up for a penalty miss in the first half.
Colombia, who have qualified for the quarterfinals, top Group D with six points after two matches, with Brazil in second on four points. Costa Rica are third with one point and Paraguay are bottom with zero after two defeats.
Colombia cruised to a 3-0 win over Costa Rica,thanks to strikes from Luis Diaz, Davinson Sanchez and Jhon Cordoba.
'Los Cafeteros' sealed a tenth consecutive victory and 25th match without defeat as they pursue their first Copa America title since 2001.
Colombia started the match well and took the lead in the 31st minute through Liverpool winger Diaz, who confidently converted from the penalty spot after Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira bundled over Cordoba in the box.
As Costa Rica pressed for an equaliser they left themselves open on the break and Colombia made them pay, with Sanchez outmuscling defender Juan Pablo Vargas to head Jhon Arias' corner past Sequeira from close range in the 59th minute.
After scoring, Sanchez held up the jersey of team mate Jhon Lucumi, who missed the match due to an injury.
Cordoba rounded out the scoring three minutes later after timing his run perfectly to stay onside and latch onto James Rodriguez's long ball before calmly slotting his finish past Sequeira.