Copa America 2021: Matchday 7 Recap

Second-half comebacks were the order of the day in matchday 7 of Copa America 2021. Peru (PER) scored two goals in the space of five minutes and grabbed a draw against Ecuador (ECU) in the opening match. Meanwhile, Brazil (BRA) came back from a goal down to grab all three points in the stoppage-time against Colombia (COL).

Here’s a recap of both the matches Copa America 2021 matchday 7.

ECU vs PER

Gustavo Alfaro, Ecuador head coach, was left frustrated as his team failed to hold on to their lead and had to settle for a point in a second successive match. They went up 2-0 at the break, but Peru fought back and leveled the game within the opening ten minutes of the second half, courtesy of goals from Gianluca Lapadula and Andre Carrillo.

Ecuador, who dominated the proceedings in the first half, opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Peru midfielder Renato Tapia drilled the ball into his own goal as he attempted to clear a dangerous low pass. A few minutes later, Robert Arboleda saw his header saved by Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. But it didn’t take Ecuador long to find the second goal. Ayrton Preciado tapped the ball into the net from a free-kick in the added time of the first half.

Peru woke up in the second half and scored within four minutes of the restart. Christian Cueva teed up Lapadula on the left, and the 31-year-old sent a powerful shot, which went through the legs of Ecuador custodian Hernan Galindez. The equalizer came immediately. Sergio Pena’s pass found Lapadula in Ecuador half, and he skipped past Arboleda and put it on a plate for Carrillo. The Al-Hilal forward calmly slotted it past the goalkeeper. Ecuador pressed hard for a third, but the Peru backline held them to a draw.

Goalscorers: ECU – R Tapia (OG), A Preciado; PER – G Lapadula, A Carrillo

Assists: ECU – D Diaz; PER – C Cueva, G Lapadula 

Top Five Fantasy Points scorers: G Lapadula (15.5 pts), A Carrillo (11.5 pts), A Preciado (11 pts), D Diaz (8 pts), C Cueva (7.5 pts)

BRA vs COL

Brazil confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa America 2021 after a 2-1 victory over Colombia. A stunning goal by Luis Diaz gave Colombia the lead in the first half. With 12 minutes left on the clock, Roberto Firmino netted the equalizer, and Casemiro headed home the winner for the defending champions in the stoppage-time.

In the tenth minute, Juan Cuadrado sent a hopeful ball into Brazil’s box, and Diaz fired a sensational bicycle volley past Weverton. It took an amazing strike to beat the Brazil backline for the first time in the tournament. The hosts struggled for fluency and went into the break trailing by a goal.

Brazil enjoyed better possession in the second half. Neymar hit the post, while attempts from Richarlison and Danilo failed to test Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina. They squared the game through substitute Roberto Firmino in the 78th minute. He headed the ball straight into the hands of the goalkeeper, but Ospina made a mess of it. The Colombia players argued that in the build-up to the goal, the ball had hit the referee, and they paused the game expecting a drop ball. But the protests went in vain, and the goal stood.

Adding insult to injury, Colombia conceded a goal in the final few seconds of the ten-minute long injury time. The defenders switched off during a corner, and Casemiro headed the ball into the net to help Brazil register their third straight win.

Goalscorers: BRA – R Firmino, Casemiro; COL – L Diaz

Assists: BRA: R Lodi, Neymar; COL – J Cuadrado

Top Five Fantasy Points scorers: Casemiro (14 pts), L Diaz (11.5 pts), R Firmino (9.5 pts), J Cuadrado (8.5 pts), Neymar (7.5 pts)