2007 Copa América final

The 2007 Copa América final was the final match of the 2007 Copa América. It was held on 15 July 2007 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, between Brazil and Argentina. Brazil won 3–0, with goals from Júlio Baptista, a Roberto Ayala own goal and Dani Alves. Brazil won their eighth title, while Argentina could have won their fifteenth.[2]

2007 Copa América final
Event2007 Copa América
Date15 July 2007
VenueEstadio José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo
RefereeCarlos Amarilla (Paraguay)
Attendance40,000
WeatherMostly cloudy
32 °C (90 °F)[1]
2004
2011

Background

It was the second consecutive final between Brazil and Argentina; Brazil had won the 2004 Final in a penalty shootout against Argentina. The match ended 2–2 after extra time: Kily González opened the scoring with a penalty, and Luisão headed an equaliser at the start of the second half. César Delgado put Argentina back into the lead with three minutes of normal time remaining, but Adriano equalised in added time. In the shootout, Brazil's Júlio César saved the first Argentine penalty by Andrés D'Alessandro while Gabriel Heinze missed,[3] and defender Juan scored the winner.[4]

Route to the final

BrazilRoundArgentina
OpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult
 Mexico0–2Match 1  United States4–1
 Chile3–0Match 2  Colombia4–2
 Ecuador1–0Match 3  Paraguay1–0
TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
 Mexico321041+37
 Brazil320142+26
 Chile311135−24
 Ecuador300336−30
Final standings
TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
 Argentina330093+69
 Paraguay320182+66
 Colombia310239−63
 United States300328−60
OpponentResultKnockout stageOpponentResult
 Chile6–1Quarter-finals  Peru4–0
 Uruguay2–2
(5–4 pen.)
Semi-finals  Mexico3–0

Match

Officials

Paraguayan Carlos Amarilla was chosen to be the referee, having also refereed the 2004 Final.[5] In the 2007 tournament he refereed two more matches, Uruguay against Peru, and Chile against Mexico, both of the first round.

Team selection

Of Argentina's team which took part in the 2004 Final, Roberto Abbondanzieri, Javier Zanetti, Gabriel Heinze, Roberto Ayala, Javier Mascherano, and Carlos Tevez started in the 2007 edition, with Lucho González a starter in 2004 and substitute in 2007.[3][6] For Brazil, Juan and Maicon started both, with Diego a substitute in both.[3][6]

Synopsis

Brazil took the lead in the fourth minute through Júlio Baptista, set up by Elano. Thirty minutes later, however, Elano went off injured to be replaced by Dani Alves. Alves sent in a cross in the 40th minute, which Ayala deflected for an own goal past Abbondanzieri to double Brazil's lead at half time.

In the 59th minute, Argentina substituted defensive midfielder Esteban Cambiasso for attacking alternative Pablo Aimar. Ten minutes later, Brazil scored their third and final goal: Vágner Love began a counterattack, running up the pitch and setting up Alves to score.[7]

Details

Brazil  3–0  Argentina
Baptista 4'
Ayala 40' (o.g.)
Dani Alves 69'
Report
Brazil
Argentina
GK12Doni  51'
RB2Maicon
CB4Juan (c)
CB3Alex  37'
LB6Gilberto  54'
CM5Mineiro
CM17Josué  82'
RW7Elano  34'
LW19Júlio Baptista  68'
CF11Robinho  90'
CF9Vágner Love  90'
Substitutions:
DF13Dani Alves  34'
MF18Fernando  90'
MF10Diego  90'
Manager:
Dunga
GK1Roberto Abbondanzieri
RB8Javier Zanetti
CB2Roberto Ayala (c)
CB15Gabriel Milito
LB6Gabriel Heinze
CM19Esteban Cambiasso  59'
CM20Juan Sebastián Verón  67'
CM14Javier Mascherano  44'
AM18Lionel Messi
AM10Juan Román Riquelme
CF11Carlos Tevez  75'
Substitutions:
MF16Pablo Aimar  59'
MF13Lucho González  67'
Manager:
Alfio Basile

References

External links