Brazil cruised to a commanding 4-1 victory over a ten-man Paraguay side at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, extending their unbeaten streak against Los Guaraníes to ten matches. The win propels Brazil closer to securing a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Copa América, with Vínicius Júnior delivering a first-half brace that set the tone for a dominant performance.
Eager to bounce back after a frustrating draw in their tournament opener, Brazil displayed their attacking intent early. João Gomes and Lucas Paquetá both missed chances within the first ten minutes, signaling Brazil’s intent to take control of the game. Paraguay responded with a dangerous attempt from Damián Bobadilla, forcing a brilliant save from Alisson.
The Seleção’s breakthrough came after Paquetá missed a golden opportunity from the penalty spot, sending his shot over the bar after Andrés Cubas was penalized for a handball. However, redemption came swiftly. Paquetá’s sublime backheel set up Vínicius Júnior, who coolly finished under Rodrigo Morínigo to give Brazil the lead in the 38th minute.
Brazil’s dominance grew as they struck twice more before halftime. First, Bruno Guimarães’ powerful shot rebounded off the crossbar, allowing Sávio to score his debut goal for the national team. Then, in the dying moments of first-half stoppage time, a defensive mix-up between Omar Alderete and Morínigo gifted Vínicius his second goal, giving Brazil a comfortable 3-0 lead.
Paraguay briefly rallied after the break, with Alderete scoring a stunning long-range goal to end their four-match goalless streak against Brazil. However, their comeback hopes were dashed when Mathías Villasanti conceded a second penalty for another handball. This time, Paquetá made no mistake, converting the spot-kick to restore Brazil’s three-goal cushion.
Paraguay’s night went from bad to worse as Cubas received a straight red card in the 81st minute, sealing their fate. The result confirms Paraguay’s exit from the tournament, while Brazil, now with four points, prepares for a crucial match against group leaders Colombia. A win on Wednesday would see Brazil advance to the quarter-finals as Group D winners.
