The Brazilian teamratified this Tuesday its status as favorite in the Women’s America Cup and eliminated Paraguay in the semifinals by beating it 2-0, a result with which those led by the Swedish Pia Sundhage will dispute the title this Saturday with Colombia.
The victory, achieved at the Alfonso López stadium in the Colombian city of Bucaramanga, also qualified Verdeamarela for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Paraguay, for its part, will play on Friday in the game for third place, direct qualification for the World Cup against Argentina. If he loses that match, he will play the play-off in February 2023 in New Zealand.
The goals for the Sundhage team were the work of midfielder Ary Borges and Bia Zaneratto in a first half in which the Paraguayans were outmaneuvered in defense by the fast attacking opponents.
La Albirroja tried to surprise in the opening minutes with a direct free kick by Fany Gauto that almost slipped into the Brazilian goal if it hadn’t been for Lorena managing to send him to a corner.
However, the Canarinha soon took control of the game and began to cause damage with their speed and had the first clear opportunity in a counterattack in which the striker Adriana took a very strong shot that Alicia Bobadilla saved.
In this context, the first goal came when Zaneratto passed a ball to Borges, who came from behind and took a very strong shot that the Paraguayan goalkeeper could not stop.
La Albirroja had a lot of difficulties breaking the orderly rival defense. Neither Jessica Martínez nor Fauto were precise, so the ball barely reached the vicinity of Lorena’s goal.
Fe Palermo (Brazil) disputes a ball with Fátima Acosta (Paraguay)
Brazil, meanwhile, began to exert high pressure that led to a 2-0 draw, as the team recovered the ball on Paraguayan soil and winger Antonia assisted Zaneratto, who celebrated his third goal in the championship at 27.
The Brazilian dominance was driven by the great work done in midfield by Ary Borges and Angelina, who prevented the Paraguayans from dangerously approaching their goal.
The only way in which Marcello Frigério’s team reached Lorena’s goal at the end of the first half was with a shot from a Jessica Martínez free kick in the 37th minute that the Brazilian goalkeeper saved without problems.
In the second half, Paraguay tried to get close to the rival’s goal, driven by Fabiola Sandoval, but failed to go deep either, while Brazil slowed down but continued to do damage, especially on the wings with Kerolin and Adriana.
When the team stepped on the accelerator, they were about to increase the advantage with opportunities from Duda Sampaio and Zaneratto, which worried the goalkeeper Bobadilla. In the end, with a slow rhythm and total control, the Brazilians closed the game and will look for their eighth Copa América title on Saturday at the Alfonso López stadium.
DATA SHEET
2 – Brazil: Lorraine; Antonia, Tainara, Rafaelle (d.71, Kathellen), Tamires; Ary Borges (m.57, Duda Sampaio), Angelina, Kerolin (m.80, Gabi Portilho), Adriana; Bia Zaneratto and Debinha (m.71 Geyse)
Coach: Pia Sundhage
0 – Paraguay: Alicia Bobadila, Ramona Martínez, María Martínez, Hilda Riveros (m.85, Lorena Alonso), Daysy Bareiro (m.90, Graciela Martínez); Fanny Godoy (m.85, Rosa Miño), Dulce Quintana, Jessica Martínez, Fabiola Sandoval; Rebeca Fernández (m.72, Fatima Acosta) and Fanny Gauto
Coach: Marcello Frigerio
Goals: 1-0, Ary Borges (m. 15); 2-0, Bia Zaneratto (d. 27)
Referee: The Uruguayan Anahí Fernández. She admonished Ary Borges and María Martínez
Incidents: semifinal match of the Women’s Copa América played at the Alfonso López stadium in the Colombian city of Bucaramanga
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