Daniel Munoz scored in first-half stoppage time and Colombia secured the top spot in Copa America’s Group D with a 1-1 draw against Brazil in their clash at Santa Clara, Calif., on Tuesday.
Colombia (2-0-1, 7 points) advances to a quarterfinal matchup against CONCACAF Cinderella Panama on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz. Panama advanced from Group C, helped by a shock victory over the United States.
Brazil (1-0-2, 5 points) heads into a perilous quarterfinal against Group C winners Uruguay on Saturday at Las Vegas. The Selecao will have to play without star Vinicius Junior after he picked up his second yellow card of the tournament on Tuesday.
Munoz’s strike canceled out a brilliant early free kick from Brazil’s Raphinha and prolonged Colombia’s unbeaten run to 26 matches, though its 10-game winning streak was halted.
Brazil went in front in the 12th minute after James Rodriguez needlessly fouled Joao Gomes as he dribbled away from Colombia’s penalty area.
Up stepped Raphinha, who curled his free kick from about 28 yards over the defensive wall and inside the top left corner after grazing the outstretched palm of diving goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.
Vinicius Junior thought he had earned a penalty in the 43rd minute when he darted into the left side of the area and tumbled under Munoz’s challenge.
Replays appeared to show Munoz contacted Vinicius Junior and not the ball, but VAR Maruo Vigliano did not summon referee Jesus Valenzuela to the monitor.
Colombia then pulled level in first-half stoppage time.
As with most of his team’s play in the first half, Rodriguez was involved, sending a sliding pass to Jhon Cordoba near the penalty arc.
Cordoba turned to neatly slot the ball to Munoz making a run into the right side of the area, and Munoz finished emphatically past Brazil goalkeeper Alisson.
Brazil ratcheted up the pressure after halftime but looked most threatening mainly from set pieces.
Raphinha came closest to scoring on another free kick in the 59th minute that sailed narrowly wide of the left post.
Colombia’s Rafael Borre missed an excellent chance to give his side the lead in the 84th minute, reaching Luis Diaz’s low cross to the back post, only to sky his first-time effort over the crossbar.
Vargas pushed Andreas Pereira’s dipping effort from the penalty arc over the bar in second-half stoppage time.
–Field Level Media
