Copa America Update

2 games apiece in the books for Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in this tournament and the three teams have combined for ZERO wins.Colombia meanwhile is the first side through to the quarterfinals clinching first place in Group A with 7 points with their 2-0 win over Bolivia today. Argentina and Costa Rica will wrap up Group A play tomorrow. Argentina needs to win to be assured a spot in the next round.

BRAZIL 2 PARAGUAY 2

It took an 89th minute goal from substitute striker Fred to keep Brazil from a loss in their second game of the tournament. The winners of the last two Copa America tournaments took a 1-0 lead when 27 year old Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Jádson tallied his first national team goal with a long range blast in the 38th minute. Brazil would maintain their early lead into the second half, but Paraguay came storming back with goals from Roque Santa Cruz and Nelson Haedo Valdez. Santa Cruz's goal was the 25th of his international career tying him for the all-time scoring lead for Paraguay with José Cardozo. The 2010 World Cup quarterfinalists seemed on track for the upset until Fred rescued the Samba Kings with his 6th career goal, and 2nd of 2011. Brazil now faces a must-win game against Ecuador on Wednesday night while Paraguay finds themselves in a similar predicament and must beat the Venezuelans to guarantee themselves a spot in the Final Eight.


VENEZUELA 1 ECUADOR 0


Through two matches it's not Brazil or Paraguay atop Group B, but rather the 69th ranked Venezuelans who got a long range strike from César Eduardo González to give them a 1-0 win over Ecuador. It was just his 3rd goal for Venezuela and first since scoring in March of 2010 in a 2-1 loss to Panama in a friendly. Through two matches the Venezuelans have yet to be scored upon and a draw should be enough to see them through to the Round of 8. Chivas USA striker Alejandro Moreno who appeared as a reserve against Brazil did not play against Ecuador. The Venezuelans outshot Ecuador 13-6 in the match.


COLOMBIA 2 BOLIVIA 0


The Colombians, the last team other than Brazil to win the Copa America are the first team through to the Round of 8 following their 2-0 win over Bolivia. Radamel Falcao scored twice in the first half giving him 9 career goals for the Colombians. The FC Porto striker got in behind the defense and easily beat Bolivian goalkeeper Carlos Erwin Arias 1 v 1 to make it 1-0. He'd add a PK a little while later to extend the lead and Colombia more or less coasted from there. Bolivia was eliminated from the tournament with the loss as they fell to 0-2-1 and with just 1 point they will finish last in Group A. Ranked 93rd in the World and last in the region, their 1-1 tie with Argentina will be their big takeaway from the tournament.