Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2025

Daily Sabah - Latest & Breaking News from Turkey | Istanbul

  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Motorsports
  • Tennis

Accidental referee pass helps Brazil beat Colombia in Copa America

by ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAO PAULO Jun 24, 2021 - 12:58 pm GMT+3
Brazil's Neymar (C) goes past Colombia's William Tesillo (L) and Luis Diaz during a Copa America 2021 match at the Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 23, 2021. (AFP Photo)
Brazil's Neymar (C) goes past Colombia's William Tesillo (L) and Luis Diaz during a Copa America 2021 match at the Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 23, 2021. (AFP Photo)
by ASSOCIATED PRESS Jun 24, 2021 12:58 pm

Defending champions Brazil rode their luck to win a tense Copa America group stages match against Colombia on Wednesday.

Despite the defeat, the Colombians will also advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.

The 2-1 scoreline, however, tells little about the match that featured three extraordinary goals.

Colombia opened the scoring in the 10th minute after Juan Cuadrado crossed from the right and found Luis Diaz all alone in the middle of Brazil's penalty box. The striker shot a powerful volley to the right side of goalkeeper Weverton and scored possibly the best goal of the tournament.

Colombia then started defending against a Brazil team that barely stopped surrounding its penalty box on the poor pitch of the Nilton Santos stadium in Rio de Janeiro. It appeared as if Colombia would be able to hold out until Argentine referee Nestor Pitana's knee came into play.

Pitana accidentally blocked a pass by Neymar about 10 meters in front of the Colombian area in the 78th minute. Colombian defenders momentarily stopped, but Brazil substitute Lucas Paquetá just moved the ball to left-back Renan Lodi and his cross found Roberto Firmino, whose angled header beat Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.

The Colombians initially refused to restart the match but Pitana, the referee of the 2018 World Cup final, confirmed Brazil's goal.

Brazil kept pressuring in the final minutes and found its reward in added time. Neymar took a corner and Casemiro netted the winner.

"They came at us once and then stopped,” Casemiro said after the match. "It was our attack against their defense. Colombia is a strong team but, as the coach requires, we are very strong mentally.”

Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda said the deflection off Pitana affected his players in the buildup to Brazil's first goal.

"The two Brazil goals are different situations. In the first, I think the referee's decision distracted our players. And in the second we were not paying attention when they took the corner,” he said. "It is a shame, all our effort was lost in a set piece.”

Midfielder Cuadrado agreed, saying "We are very upset about the goal."

Colombia's Luis Diaz (L) prepares to shoot and score against Brazil during a Copa America 2021 group phase match at the Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 23, 2021.(AFP Photo)
Colombia's Luis Diaz (L) prepares to shoot and score against Brazil during a Copa America 2021 group phase match at the Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 23, 2021.(AFP Photo)

"The ball hit the referee and he should not have validated it in the way he did.”

Brazil was already assured of advancing to the knockout stage before the match, but players were effusive in their celebration of the win. Neymar and Colombia's Miguel Borja traded insults after the match ended, and tough challenges from both sides marked the final minutes.

Earlier in the evening, Ecuador and Peru drew 2-2 at the Olimpico stadium in Goiania in the other Group B game. The Ecuadorians opened the scoring with an own goal by Renato Tapia in the 23rd and got their second via Ayrton Preciado in the first-half stoppage time.

Peru pulled level in the second half with goals by Gianluca Lapadula in the 49th and Andre Carrillo in the 54th. Both teams retained their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.

Brazil leads the group with nine points after three matches. Colombia has four from four matches, but it is sure to advance because Peru and Venezuela will meet on the weekend - and only one of those teams can overtake the Colombians in the group.

Peru has four points followed by Ecuador (3) and Venezuela(2). The top four teams advance to the playoff stage.

Brazil will play its last group stage match against Ecuador on Sunday.

  • shortlink copied
  • KEYWORDS
    copa america football conmebol brazil colombia
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Caspian Sea
    Top 15 world’s largest lakes
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • DS TV
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021