Colombia and Brazil celebrate debut wins at the CONMEBOL Copa America 2021

The 2021 CONMEBOL Copa America kicked off with opening day wins for Colombia and reigning champions Brazil in Group B.

The party got underway in the safest way possible and the continent was rocking with the emotion of the world’s oldest national team competition.

Brazil and Venezuela provided the curtain raiser with all three points going to the hosts. Once again the Seleção showed why they are considered by may to be tournaent favorites, reproducing their impressive World Cup qualifying form.

Venezuela were organized and competitive but the canarinha were able to produce an authoritative 3-0 win against the vinotinto at the Estadio Mané Garrincha in Brasilia.

Close range finishes from Marquinhos and Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa plus a Neymar penalty meant Brazil were able to take all three points against a spirited Venezuelan side.

The numbers from the game

• Tite’s Brazil has not conceded in six of the seven games in the Copa América (5wins, 2 losses). Peru are the only team to score against his side in this competition, with the Seleção coming out on top 3-1.
• Brazil have opened with victories in five of the six editions of the Copa América played in their country (1 draw). In 2019 they won 3-0 against Bolivia, the same result as in 2021 against Venezuela.
• Brazil extend their unbeaten streak against Venezuela in the Copa América to nine games (7 wins, 2 draws). During this period Brazil kept a clean sheet in 7 games. 
• Neymar scored his 67th goal for Brazil. He is the second top scorer in the history of the Brazilian national team and is now just 10 goals behind Pelé’s record.
• Marquinhos scored his third goal for the Brazilian national team. In the three matches that he has scored Brazil have always won and never conceded. They secured a 5-0 win against Bolivia in Qualifiers, 5-0 against El Salvador in a friendly and this 3-0 victory against Venezuela.

Colombia earn some revenge

Colombia earned a sweet, hard-fought victory tonight in the second game of the tournament in Cuiabá.

Colombia overcame Ecuador in an extremely tight encounter which just swung in favour of Reinaldo Rueda’s men thanks to an excellent moment of collective invention.

A recent wound was inflicted by Ecuador’s 6-1 triumph over los cafeteros and it was clear neither side was willing to give up control of the game during a tense first half with very few clear chances.

The deadlock was eventually broken just before the break with an excellently worked freekick that was finished by the talented Boca midfielder Edwin Cardona.

It was either an intricately worked training ground routine or a moment of collective inspiration. Regardless of how the moment was conjoured it was a true golazo and one which would prove decisive.

Ecuador pushed for the equalizer in the second half but it proved difficult to get past the organized Colombian defense. Wilmar Barrios was in heroic form at the base of the midfield while Ospina was once again key.

Colombia ultimately were able to secure a narrow win to secure three hard-earned points and a strong start in Group B.

The numbers from the game

• This is Colombia’s eigth consecutive victory against Ecuador in the Copa America (6 without conceding a goal). It has been 58 years since the last time Ecuador beat Colombia in the compeititon, a 4-3 win back in 1963.

• Colombia have lost only 2 of their last 14 games in the Copa America (8 wins and 4 draws). Both defeats came in 2016, firstly against Costa Rica (2-3) and then Chile (0-2).

• Colombia only had 5 shots on goal against Ecuador, their second lowest total in the last 4 editions of the Copa America. Their lowest total came against Argentina in 2015 when the game finished 0-0.

• Ecuador has 58.4% of possession in the game which is their second highest in the last four editions of the Copa America. The highest was a remarkable 73.3% in a 3-2 defeat against Bolivia in 2015.

• Edwin Cardona scored his first goal in his fourth Copa America tournament. This was the Boca midfielder’s first goal since a friendly against Spain in June 2016. This was his sixth goal for the national team.

• This was the first time in his career that Miguel Borja has directly participated in goals in consecutive games for the Colombian national team. He scored against Argentina in last week’s qualifier and set up Cardona with a header against Ecuador.

• The last time Colombia won 1-0 against Ecuador was at the 2001 Copa America which los cafeteros would go on to win for the first and only time in their history.

Data: OPTA