Brazil beats Chile at Copa America despite 2nd-half red card
Rio de Janeiro: Defending Copa America champions Brazil defended strongly with 10 men to advance to the semifinals with a 1-0 win against Chile.
Substitute Lucas Paquet scored the only goal of the match only seconds before Gabriel Jesus was sent off early in the second half.
Paquet 's winner to the left corner of Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in the 46th minute gave Brazil fans some hope that the Selecao would ease into the next stage. But only two minutes later Jesus was sent off after hitting Chile's Eugenio Mena with a flying kick.
Neymar and Brazil coach Tite said after the match that Jesus didn't see Mena and accidentally kicked him as he tried to recover possession in the midfield.
Brazil worked so hard defensively that Chile had fewer shots on goal after Jesus was sent off than during the time he played; two against three.
Defending well is a characteristic of ours, Brazil's Thiago Silva said.
Regardless of what we did today we concede few goals. Ever down to 10 we created clear opportunities. I am very proud of this team, for its fighting spirit.
Paquet came onto the pitch after a tense first half with few opportunities for both sides. He replaced Roberto Firmino.
Brazil didn't stop threatening Chile with Neymar's dribbles and quick counter-attacks. But Chile was much closer to the equalizer; it had an Eduardo Vargas goal disallowed for offside and English-Chilean Ben Brereton hit the bar with a header in the 68th minute.
An exhausted Neymar said after the match that playing with 10 men was a great test for Brazil. He was not close to scoring as in other Copa America matches, but he was key by holding possession.
"Every match we need to get some tests to make us stronger, show we can do it in every circumstance," Neymar said.
We had to stand together. It was very hard to do it. Chile's Arturo Vidal said his team will leave the tournament with some pride.
We lost to a great team, a favorite which is playing at home, he said.
If we play like we played today, with some more time to work, this team will clearly have its intensity back. We hope to qualify to the World Cup. It will be hard, but we can.
Peru advanced to the semifinal after beating Paraguay on penalties 4-3 after a 3-3 score in regular time, in the most thrilling Copa America match yet.
Brazil and Peru played the latest Copa America final in 2019, with the hosts winning 3-1. Jesus was also sent off in that match at Rio's Maracana Stadium. Monday's encounter will be at the same Nilton Santos Stadium where Brazil beat Chile.
Brazil coach Tite, who was recently fined by South American soccer body CONMEBOL for criticizing the tournament's organization, once more criticized the quality of the Nilton Santos pitch, despite minor improvements made recently.
If I were watching from home I would say this could have been a good match, and look what it is... Ederson had difficulties to take goal kicks," Tite said.
Please, be responsible. I recognize people are trying to improve the pitch, but find a better pitch for us to play.
The Copa America final will be played at the Maracana Stadium on July 10.
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Priyanka Gandhi participates in various official, outreach programmes in Wayanad
Wayanad(Kerala) (PTI): Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday took part in various official and outreach programmes, including inaugurating a health laboratory, in her Lok Sabha constituency.
Vadra, who is in Kerala on a three-day visit, inaugurated a health laboratory in Malappuram that was set up by the Kalikavu Service Cooperative Bank.
Later in the day, she interacted with potters at Nilambur, held a meeting with the Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM) state president T P Abdullah Koya Madani at Edavanna and met locals at Wayanad Churam (tunnel) bypass road at Chippilithode.
Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM) is an Islamic reformist organisation.
The pottery workers, who presented Vadra with several gifts made by them, told the Congress MP about the difficulties faced by them in their profession.
She assured them that she will work on their issues.
Regarding the Wayanad Churam bypass road, the Congress MP told the people that she has already spoken to the Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari who has constituted a committee for a study to explore what is possible here and what is not.
She said that she will request for expediting the process.
