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Brazil successful the Copa America Femenina could be seen as so frequent that it hardly counts as information. 9 variations of the match have been performed, and Brazil have gained eight of them — the most recent after a 1-0 win on Saturday towards hosts Colombia, on the finish of a contest the place they gained all of their matches and didn’t concede a single aim.
However this time it was not really easy. Requirements are rising as the game is growing. Colombia, in fact, had residence benefit, and a capability crowd in Bucaramanga to cheer them on and, with extra photographs, and extra photographs on course, they pushed Brazil laborious — a lot that the Brazil group is receiving some criticism from its personal press together with the reward for successful the title.
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That’s as a result of the titles that actually rely within the ladies’s sport are the World Cup and the Olympic gold medal. And doubts stay in regards to the capability of this facet, rebuilt by Swedish coach Pia Sondhage, to compete for the intense silverware. Most likely the perfect group on this planet round 15 years in the past, Brazil paid the penalty for not investing within the sport. They had been overtaken and now they’re striving to catch up. Heat up defeats to Denmark and Sweden left doubts hanging over the group — which haven’t been fully expunged by this newest Copa conquest.
Additionally going into the ultimate on the again of a 100% document, Colombia actually had the perfect of their opening half hour. Their 4-2-3-1 was up towards Brazil’s 4-4-2, giving them the additional participant in midfield. They stopped Brazil from taking part in out of defence and received into the house behind the Brazil full-backs, with out managing to supply a lot of a risk to Lorena within the Brazil aim.
However Brazil can rely on additional particular person skill. As house began to open up, they started to seek out it simpler to seek out some circulation and hyperlink the strains of their group — and a few inspiration from striker Debinha gained the day. She produced a fast backheel on the sting of the realm, raced ahead to obtain the return ball, minimize throughout to the suitable of the Colombia defence and was clumsily introduced down by Manuela Vanegas. She picked herself as much as sweep confidently residence from the penalty spot and, with a couple of minutes till half-time, Brazil had been forward.
After the break they seemed almost definitely to attain the following aim, trying particularly harmful from second balls at set items. However Colombia coach Nelson Abadia made a change that appeared counter intuitive, however which functioned properly. He took off large centre-forward Mayra Ramirez and switched to a few on the again. It had the impact of releasing 17-year-old sensation Linda Caicedo, who was chosen because the participant of the match. She got here into the sport, and Colombia began to fizz. She shot simply over the bar, and was then denied by a saving sort out from right-back Antonia. The left foot of Catalina Usme started to bother Lorena, however Brazil captain and centre-back Rafaelle saved making very important clearances, Colombia didn’t have fairly sufficient to drive an equaliser and Brazil held on to start out the victory celebrations.
Either side might be in Paris for the 2024 Olympics — and a yr earlier than that, each might be in Australia and New Zealand for the following iteration of the Girls’s World Cup. They are going to be joined by Argentina, who got here good on the finish to beat Paraguay and win the third place playoff. This sport was on no account the standard glorified pleasant. The winner would make it by way of mechanically to the World Cup, the loser must make do with a continental playoff. And, for a very long time it appeared that Paraguay, the shock facet of this yr’s competitors, would come out on prime. However the present Argentina facet have loads of preventing spirit. They equalised late on, and added two extra in stoppage time, with Yamila Rodriguez ending as match prime scorer, to guide their place.
And there was loads of late drama within the match to find out fifth place, the place the winner has a shot on the World Cup by way of a playoff, and the loser finally ends up with nothing. Proper on the finish of the sport, star participant Deyna Castellanos equalised for Venezuela towards Chile. However the Chileans got here by way of the penalty shootout. Venezuela had crushed them in heat up, however when it mattered it was Chile who took the prize.
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