The final match day for Group B, kicked off with a few clear possible outcomes.
If Brazil got a point against Peru, they’d win the group.
If Peru beat Brazil, they’d win the group.
If Ecuador crushed Haiti, and Brazil and Peru tied, they’d win the group.
If Haiti crushed Ecuador, they’d never have to buy a beer back home again.
So how did it turn out?
Ecuador 4 – Haiti 0
After an extremely shaky first half against Peru, Ecuador’s hopes of the second round were somewhere between slim and slimmer. But a pair of pretty goals got a tie, and with local fans stretching up into the third tier of Met Life Stadium in New Jersey, fresh life was blown into Los Amarillos.
Enner Valencia nets his 16th international goal in just his 28th cap. Quite a record! #ECUvHAI #MyCopaColors https://t.co/eSkH606ix4
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2016
The primary surprise was that it had taken Ecuador that long to get on the board. They continued to threaten on a nearly constant basis, and ultimately bagged four, most of which felt like piling on against junior varsity. That wasn’t quite enough to win the group, but it did guarantee that Ecuador would be setting off for Seattle and a second round match against the US.
Christian Noboa makes Haiti pay for a bad giveaway and puts in Ecuador's third. #ECUvPER #MyCopaColors https://t.co/KvJSm76SXN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 12, 2016
One word before moving on: Haiti had struggled to get close to goal in previous matches, but made some of their best movements this time out. Duckens Nazon and Kevin LaFrance kept sending strong searching balls out for good goal scoring opportunities, in the end, they didn’t find any but did win a few new fans.
Peru 1 – Brazil 0
7 goals against Haiti, none against either South American team, but Brazil were going to be “the best” in their group?
After the early game, it was clear: Brazil would top the group with a point. Peru needed to beat Brazil and to do that they’d have to score a goal against them….They hadn’t done either at a Copa since 1975.
The first half showed two extremely clear game plans: Peru would bring the physicality; Brazil would bring the pressure. While Los Incas jostled and jockeyed their way for lightning strikes on goal, Brazil pushed deeper and deeper through concise crosses and through balls, only to fall short in the face of Keeper Pedro Gallese.
Peru's Pedro Gallese with the fingertip save to deny Gabriel. ???? #BRAvPER #MyCopaColors https://t.co/U8Ln4iSaNN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 13, 2016
The second half continued the trends of the first and looked for all the world like the predictable end of a depressingly sloppy Brazil first place finish when chaos and controversy set in.
A look at Raul Ruidiaz's goal that has Brazil on the brink of crashing out of #CopaAmerica. #BRAvPER #MyCopaColors https://t.co/dlcsDhiq7c
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 13, 2016
Was it a handball? Hard to say. Was it a deflection? At least. Would it have made any difference if Pedro Gallese hadn’t barricaded the gates for the previous 70 minutes? Not at all. But there were still 20 more minutes for Brazil to level the score and advance, 20 minutes that tested Gallese and the patience of anyone who had already booked tickets to see the big name Brazil in East Rutherford.
But the result stood. Peru won. Brazil has been bounced. And for the first time in 40 years, Los Incas have topped El Selacao at the Copa.
What’s Next?
Thursday 6/16: Ecuador v. USA (Seattle)
Friday 6/17: Peru v. Colombia (East Rutherford)
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