Habeeb Akinfegbe
The second day’s (Saturday, 4th June) three tightly contested games produced plenty of efforts,
determination and midfield intensity, but a patent lack of goals as
defensive organisation nullified attacking flair. Costa Rica and
Paraguay shared the spoils in their game, allowing Colombia, 2-0 winners
over USA on Friday, to remain at the top of Group A. Meanwhile, Peru
got off to a positive start in group B, beating Haiti by a solitary goal to move
out front in Group B. Peru made the headlines after beating
Haiti thanks to a solitary goal from Paolo Guerrero, who in the process
became his country’s highest goalscorer of all time. In the day’s final game, Brazil and Ecuador served
up an end-to-end encounter lit up by some pacy play down the flanks,
though neither side was able to find the back of the net.
For Paolo Guerrero, becoming a country's all-time leading scorer is not something you do
every day. Paolo Guerrero knows this all too well: it took him 12 years
and 70 caps for Peru to amass the 27 goals required to surpass the
legendary Teofilo Cubillas, who had held the record for almost four
decades with his haul of 26 goals in 81 international appearances.
While tight scorelines and miserly defences were the order of the day in
the opening exchanges of the 2016 Copa America Centenario, all that
changed on Sunday ( day 3 of the tournament ) when Mexico and Uruguay took centre stage, with El Tri emerging 3-1 winners in an absorbing encounter. Earlier in the day, Venezuela edged out Jamaica by a solitary goal. The signs were there in the day’s first game between Jamaica and
Venezuela, which produced more fluid football than previously seen in
the tournament and more in the way of goalmouth actions. Josef Martinez’s
opening goal on 15 minutes would prove to be the only one of the game,
however, giving the Venezuelans their first win under coach Rafael
Dudamel in an official tournament. Mexico and Uruguay then ran out at
the University of Phoenix Stadium intent on serving up even more
entertainment. El Tri were celebrating only four minutes in,
when Alvaro Pereira inadvertently turned an Andres Guardado cross into
his own net. Both teams went down to ten men before Diego Godin headed
home from a free-kick to level things up with 16 minutes remaining. The
chances flowed at both ends in a dramatic finale, with neither side able
to gain control. Then, with five minutes remaining, Rafael Marquez
pounced on a loose ball at an uncleared corner-kick and thrashed home at
the near post to put the Mexicans back in front, with Hector Herrera then
applying the finishing touch for El Tri two minutes into stoppage time.
In the final game of the the first round of group matches, despite the absence of captain Lionel Messi, Argentina saw off Chile in a rematch of last year's Copa America final. Argentina showed there is more to the team than Lionel Messi after
accounting for defending champion Chile 2-1 in their Copa America
Centenario opener in Santa Clara on Monday. Messi was an unused substitute in a rematch of last year's Copa
America final, with Argentina coach Gerardo Martino opting not to risk
his captain at Levi's Stadium as he nurses a back injury. Angel di Maria and Ever Banega stepped up in the absence of the
five-time Ballon d'Or winner, with the pair's quick-fire second-half
goals inspiring a fifth consecutive victory for Argentina. Rojo and Lamela went close to adding a third for Argentina before
Fuenzalida headed in a Fabian Orellana set piece as Romero came rushing
out to collect in the 93rd minute.A late winner from Blas Perez saw Panama edge Bolivia 2-1 in an entertaining Copa America Centenario clash in the opening game on Monday. Perez, whose opener at a wet Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, had been cancelled out by Juan Carlos Arce, scored the winner in the 87th minute for the Copa newcomers. The veteran Vancouver Whitecaps striker capitalized on good work from Abdiel Arroyo to secure Panama's win in the Group D clash. Perez had put Panama ahead with a well-deserved opener in the 11th minute as the team made a bright start.
However, Bolivia worked its way back into the encounter and leveled
through Arce, but its losing run was still stretched to five games.Actions move back to groups A today 7th June as United States face Costa Rica and Colombia face Paraguay in the tournament's games 9 and 10 respectively. Colombia will be hoping to confirm a place in the knock out stage while Paraguay will be hoping to add to their opening match draw against Costa Rica. The United States however will be sitting on the edge when they face Costa Rica who have a point, as a loss against the Ticos will confirm the hosts' exit from this once in a life time event.
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