Copa America: Costa Rica beats Paraguay however exits as Colombia, Brazil advance

Luis Diaz of Colombia controls the ball through the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Group D match between Brazil and Colombia at Levi’s Stadium on July 02, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Pictures through AFP

Costa Rica scored two early targets to beat Paraguay 2-1 of their closing Copa America Group D match on Tuesday however failed to maneuver into the quarter-finals after ending third following Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Colombia.

Colombia completed as group winners with seven factors whereas Brazil additionally superior as runners-up with 5. Costa Rica return residence with 4 factors whereas Paraguay exit after three losses.

“This was a really powerful group. We have been taking part in in opposition to Brazil and Colombia, two of the 4 favourites to win the Copa,” Costa Rica coach Gustavo Alfaro advised reporters.

“We had our strengths, our achievements and our errors, however we grew and we’re analysing the efficiency relatively than the outcomes.

“The necessary factor is that we be taught and that this was a really quick event that we needed to seize to the fullest.”

Costa Rica wanted outcomes to go their manner together with a giant swing in objective distinction to qualify they usually wasted no time getting on the board when skipper Francisco Calvo and Josimar Alcocer made it 2-0 inside seven minutes.

Calvo headed residence from the sting of the six-yard field within the third minute whereas 19-year-old Alcocer powered previous a number of gamers earlier than pulling the set off from effectively outdoors the field to beat the keeper.

However Paraguay got here to life within the second half and Costa Rica’s hopes of qualifying dwindled 10 minutes after the restart when Ramon Sosa scored his first objective for his nation.

Costa Rica’s defence may do nothing as Mathias Villasanti dribbled into the field and arrange Sosa, who blasted the ball into the highest nook previous the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira.

Costa Rica practically conceded once more from a nook in added time, the ball deflecting off Fabian Balbuena’s head to Angel Romero however his shot didn’t make it previous the fingertips of Sequeira.

It marked the primary time since 1925 that Paraguay had misplaced all of their group matches.

“It was a foul event, a foul efficiency,” coach Daniel Garnero stated.

Talking about his future, he added: “I’m right here as a result of the affiliation requested my providers and if they do not need me to proceed, that’s their resolution. I will have to debate that with them.”

Brazil advances

Brazil performed out an action-packed 1-1 draw with Colombia in California on Tuesday to arrange a mouth-watering Copa America quarter-final in opposition to Uruguay.

Colombia, who completed high of Group D on seven factors, will face Panama within the final eight.

Daniel Munoz’s first-half strike for Colombia cancelled out a powerful early free kick from Brazil’s Raphinha. The outcome prolonged Colombia’s unbeaten streak to 26 matches, although it did mark the top of their 10-match successful run.