Vinícius Júnior Shines in Brazil’s Copa America Triumph Over Paraguay
Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior delivered a standout performance, netting two goals in their 4-1 victory against Paraguay in a Copa America Group D match held in Nevada. This game marked a significant rebound from his subdued debut in the tournament. Brazil’s victory positions them second in Group D with four points, trailing Colombia who secured six points and a spot in the quarter-finals. Costa Rica is third with a single point, while Paraguay, with zero points after two losses, has been eliminated. This win not only ended Brazil’s drought of six competitive matches without a victory but also represented their first triumph under manager Dorival Jr.
Starting from the outset, Vinícius’ agility and technique on the left flank were a stark contrast to his previous performance against Costa Rica. Despite Brazil’s energetic start, it was Paraguay nearly taking the lead in the 15th minute, only to be denied by Brazil’s Alisson Becker’s quick reflexes. Vinícius silenced his critics by scoring twice, the first coming off a setup by Lucas Paquetá after a missed penalty, and the second a deflection from a clearance by Omar Alderete. Sávio added to the tally, capitalizing on a rebound. Paraguay’s Alderete scored from long range to close the gap in the second half, but Brazil sealed their victory with a penalty by Paquetá after a handball by Mathías Villasanti.
As the match drew to a close, tensions rose, resulting in Paraguay’s Andrés Cubas being shown a red card for fouling Douglas Luiz. This allowed Brazil to comfortably secure the three points. Looking ahead, Brazil will face Colombia in California, needing just a draw to advance to the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Paraguay’s slim hopes in the tournament now hinge on their upcoming match against Costa Rica in Texas.
