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Hand Of God Knocks Brazil Out Of Copa America

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Peru sealed a spot in the quarter-finals and created history as they knocked out Brazil from the Centenario Copa America 2016.

Ruidiaz’s controversial late goal helped Peru to clinch a 1-0 victory against five-time World Cup champions Brazil in the Centenario Copa America 2016 Group B encounter at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Sunday.

Ruidiaz put Ecuador ahead in the 75th minute but television replays clearly showed that the striker had used his hand to slap the ball back into the net. The game broke into chaos as Brazil protested their heart out.

The match officials got it all wrong as the referee confirmed the goal after a long discussion with the linesman.

Ecuador qualified for the last eight as they thrashed Haiti 4-0 in the other Group B fixture, which meant Peru needed to win at all cost while Brazil only needed a draw to advance.

Brazil were clearly the better team in the first half but both the teams lacked the much needed intent to open their account early.

Peru played much deeper looking to defend in the early minutes while Brazil threw more bodies forward in search of an early goal.

Brazil had a chance to go forward in the 13th minute as Filipe Luis lodged a powerful strike at goal from 20y yards, but goalkeeper Gallese came up with a decisive block to send the ball for a corner.

Uruguayan referee denied four penalty shouts from Brazil within the first half. Peru were lucky as the referee didn’t award Brazil a penalty in the 24th minute when Christian clipped Lucas Lima inside the area.

Brazil enjoyed the maximum possession as they worked the ball away in short passes in search of scooping in a decisive move.

Dunga’s boys almost scored the opener in the 27th minute but were denied by a sensational effort from Gallese. Peru gave away the ball at the back and an incredible build up picked Gabriel in the area. The striker deceived his marker before lodging a powerful strike towards the far post but Gallese dived across to deny him of a sure chance.

Peru failed to deliver in the first half as they concentrated more on defending instead of feeding the ball forward.

Brazil almost took the lead in the 37th minute but Willian’s effort went inches over the bar. Lima completed a brilliant run to rush into the top of the area before whipping in a clinical cross back towards the far post to find Willian. The ball perfectly landed at his feet but a brilliant defensive effort from Trauco forced Willian’s strike over the bar.

Peru were denied a penalty in the dying minutes of the first half when Flores was clearly tripped inside the box by Renato Agusto.

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Peru looked a much stronger side after the restart and they grew in confidence as they managed to steal away space from Brazil in the final third.

Peru had a chance from a free-kick to open their account in the 50th minute but Alisson denied Peru the breakthrough. Cueva thumped in an effort from distance but Alisson managed to get a hand behind it.

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Ruidiaz broke the deadlock in the 75th minute to set up a historic victory for Peru. Polo whipped in a decisive cross across the face of the goal into the centre for Ruidiaz to thump it into the net. However the referee misjudged it as the television replays clearly showed that the striker had used his hand to slap the ball back into the net.

Brazil had a last chance to level the score in the dying minutes of the game but Elias failed to capitalise on it. A well timed cross from the right found Elias waiting in the danger area, but the midfielder failed to convert from six-yards out as Peru sealed a spot in the quarter-finals.

Anirban Das
Anirban Das's journey to Delhi via Kolkata involves football, music, curiosity (which one day can kill the cat) and food. Following global football opens up an infinite space within him in both the conscious and subconscious self, away from the din and bustle of the madding crowd. Supports Manchester United & Barcelona

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