Colombia and Brazil played to a 1-1 draw in the Copa America Group D match on Tuesday night. This result ensured Colombia’s progression to the quarter-finals as group winners.
The match saw an early lead by Brazil, with Raphinha scoring a stunning free-kick in the 12th minute. His precise shot found the top corner, leaving the Colombian goalkeeper with no chance. Despite this setback, Colombia remained resilient and pressed forward.
Colombia’s persistence paid off in first-half stoppage time when Daniel Munoz netted an equalizer. Munoz’s goal came from a brilliant pass by veteran forward Jhon Cordoba, allowing Munoz to score with a powerful shot.
Throughout the first half, Colombia appeared more controlled and had several opportunities to score. James Rodriguez was particularly influential, nearly scoring from a free-kick that clipped the top of the bar. Brazil’s defense faced continuous pressure, and tempers flared, resulting in multiple yellow cards being issued by Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela.
The second half saw Colombia maintaining their strong performance. They had a golden chance to secure victory in the final minutes, but substitute Rafael Borre missed a close-range shot. Despite this, Colombia remained unbeaten in their last 26 international games since losing to Argentina in early 2022.
Brazil will now face Uruguay in the quarter-finals. Despite the disappointment of not finishing as group leaders, Brazil’s Raphinha remained optimistic. “Our team is evolving with each game, with each training session and we think we’re on the right track,” he said. “If we want to win this competition we have to be prepared to play our best.”
Adding to Brazil’s challenges, they will be without Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr., who received his second yellow card of the tournament for a reckless foul on James Rodriguez early in the game.
In another Group D match on Tuesday, Costa Rica defeated Paraguay 2-1 in Austin, securing third place in the group standings.