Brazil ended its participation in the first phase of the Women’s Copa America in great style, held in Colombia. This Thursday (21), the Canarian national team applied 6 to 0 in Peru, the biggest rout of this edition of the competition, equaling Uruguay’s victory over the same Peruvians on Monday (18). The match took place at the Pascual Guerrero Stadium in Cali.
The Brazilian team ended Group B with four wins in four games, 12 points added, 17 goals scored and none conceded. Peru finished bottom, with no points gained and goals scored, and conceded 18 goals in the competition.
The attention of Pia Sundhage’s team now turns to Paraguay. The duel for the semifinals will be this Tuesday (26), at 21:00 (Brasília time), at the Alfonso López Stadium, in Bucaramanga. Qualifying to the final assures Brazil, in one fell swoop, of spots in next year’s World Cup (in Australia and New Zealand) and in the Paris Olympics (France), in 2024.
Pia took advantage of the game to rest holders and test a new formation. Instead of the usual 4-4-2, the technique scaled the team in 3-4-3, with the sides Letícia Santos and Fê Palermo making up the defensive trio with the defender Kathellen. The midfield had Luana and Dudas Santos, Sampaio and Francelino, with Gabi Portilho, Kerolin and Geyse making the offensive set.
Players such as strikers Adriana, Bia Zaneratto and Debinha, sides Tamires and Antonia, defender Tainara (recovered from Covid-19) and midfielder Ary Borges started the duel on the bench, while midfielder Angelina and defender Rafaelle, suspended for the third yellow, were not related. Peru, in turn, went to the field with the same team thrashed by Uruguay.
Brazil needed 40 seconds to take the lead. Following an exchange of passes, Geyse invaded the area from the right and crossed low for Duda Francelino to open the scoring. At 17 minutes, Fê Palermo appeared on the left and rolled in the area. The ball fell to Duda Sampaio, who hit the corner of goalkeeper Maryory Sánchez. At 41, Duda Santos advanced on the left and found Geyse free, in the area, to make the third. The fourth goal came two minutes later, with Duda Santos taking a penalty suffered by herself – despite the infringement by midfielder Nahomi Martínez having been outside the area.
On the return of the break, the Brazilians reached the fifth in the first minute of the ball rolling, with Fê Palermo, with a header, completing Duda Sampaio’s corner from the right. At three, Duda Sampaio was knocked down in the area and suffered a penalty, charged and converted by Adriana (who came in for Duda Francelino). At a much slower pace, the Canarian team remained in the attack, but without creating many dangerous moves.
In the other Group B match, Argentina defeated Venezuela 1-0, at Estadio Centenario, in Armenia. The goal by forward Florencia Bon Segundo, 17 minutes into the final stage, earned the Argentines, with nine points, the second place in the semifinals, to face hosts Colombia on Monday (25), at 21:00, in Bucaramanga. The Venezuelans, who stagnated at six points, are left to dispute the fifth place on Sunday (24) against Chile, at 21:00, again in Armenia. The match is qualifying for the World Cup repechage.
