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26

2019 Messi Sees Red As Brazil Defeats Peru In
Copa América Final
10th, Gabriel Jesus

July Argentina Beat Chile was sent off as

| For Copa América’s 10-man Brazil
lifted the Copa
EXAMINER Third Place ninth time with
América for the
a 3-1 victory
over Peru.
h
T
e
IRISH Manchester City
striker was dis-
missed for two bookable offences either side of half-time, having
earlier set up Everton’s opener and then scored the second him-
self after Paolo Guerrero had leveled with a penalty at the
Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
His premature departure left Brazil to fight out a tense con-
clusion during which substitute Richarlison struck from the spot
to claim the trophy for the fifth time on home soil.
Tite’s men who took the lead with 16 minutes gone when
Jesus created space for himself down the right before crossing for
striker Everton to volley home.
Brazil assumed control as Peru’s efforts to respond yielded lit-
tle and Philippe Coutinho fired just wide after latching on to a
Roberto Firmino cross.
Peru were back in it a minute before the break when, after
defender Thiago Silva was adjudged to have handled inside the
box as he slid into a challenge, Guerrero sent Alisson the wrong
way from the spot.
However, Brazil restored their lead in stoppage time when
Jesus swept home Firmino’s cross to bring an end to an eventful
first half.
Coutinho and Firmino both went close as the hosts attempt-
ed to kill the game off immediately after the restart.
But Jesus’ evening took a turn for the worse with 20 minutes
remaining when he was sent off for a second bookable offence
following a challenge on Carlos Zambrano, having been booked
before the break for a foul on Yoshimar Yotun.
ionel Messi was con- referee Mario De Vivar, who approached when Medel and
Peru sensed an opportunity, but their hopes died when
troversially sent off as had consulted a video replay Messi squared up after chas- Richarlison converted from 12 yards with two minutes remain-
LArgentina beat Chile of the incident, Arturo ing a ball going out on the ing after Everton had been felled by Zambrano. C
2-1 to win the Copa Vidal’s penalty pulled a goal touchline.
América third-place play- back from Chile on the hour, Argentina remained a Celtic And Rangers Both Win
off in Sao Paulo. with the VAR again called threat on the counter at the Champions League Qualifying Openers
The Barcelona midfielder into action. start of the second half, but Celtic and Rangers both have one foot in the next round of
was shown a straight red Agüero squandered a cou- Chile were given a way back European competition as the Old Firm rivals recorded wins in
card towards the end of the ple of late chances to put the into the match. the first qualifying rounds of Champions League and Europa
first half following a con- result beyond doubt, but Play was called back as the League respectively tonight.
frontation with former Argentina saw out the clos- referee looked at a potential The Bhoys came from behind to convincingly beat Sarajevo
Cardiff midfielder Gary ing stages to secure third foul by Argentina’s Giovani 3-1 at the Asim Ferhatovic Hase Stadium.
Medel, who was also dis- place as their trophy drought Lo Celso on Charles The Scottish champions were stunned in Bosnia and
missed. goes on. Aranguiz on the edge of the Herzegovina when Mirko Oremus opened the scoring for the
Messi, though, appeared Messi had made an early penalty area and eventually home side in the 29th minute following a corner.
to have been hard done by, impact when his quick ball pointed to the spot. However, Neil Lennon’s side were soon back level as 20-year-
with Chile defender Medel forwards from a free-kick just Despite the delay, old Mikey Johnston thundered in a leveler from 25 yards six min-
appearing to push his head inside his own half put Barcelona midfielder Vidal utes later.
towards the Argentina play- Agüero racing clear and the remained calm, drilling the French striker Odsonne Edouard started this season with a
maker as they squared up, Manchester City striker went penalty straight down the classy finish in 51st minute before substitute Scott Sinclair, on for
chest to chest. around the goalkeeper and middle as Argentina goal- James Forrest, added a third with a cheeky finish.
Argentina, beaten by hosts opened the scoring in the keeper Franco Armani dived It was the first qualifying game of a potential four rounds to
Brazil in the semi-final, had 13th minute. away. make the group stages and the Glasgow club clearly have the
taken an early lead through Chile were then forced Fernandes and fellow sub- upper hand.
Manchester City forward into a change when Sanchez stitute Diego Vargas both The return game is at Parkhead next Wednesday, with the
Sergio Agüero. limped off and Junior tested Armani before victors taking on the winners of the tie between Estonian side
Chile – whose semi-final Fernandes came on. Argentina slowly regained Nomme Kalju and Shkendija of North Macedonia.
defeat by Peru ended hopes Argentina doubled their control, with Agüero having In the Europa League earlier, Sheyi Ojo struck a debut goal as
of a third straight Copa lead in the 22nd minute. a couple of late chances to Rangers beat St Joseph’s 4-0 in their qualifying first-round open-
América title – saw Juventus forward Dybala was score again. er following a goalless first half in Gibraltar.
Manchester United forward played into the left side of In stoppage time, the Ryan Jack opened the scoring four minutes after the interval
Alexis Sanchez forced off the Chile penalty area and Chile bench were all up with a smart finish, with the second following soon after via a
with a suspected hamstring clipped an angled shot into claiming for handball, but curling effort from on-loan Liverpool midfielder Ojo, one of two
problem before Paulo Dybala the far corner. this time there was no exten- debutantes in the starting line-up alongside Jordan Jones.
made it 2-0 after 22 minutes Dybala sent another vol- sive VAR review as the Rangers went three ahead from a Borna Barisic free-kick,
After Messi and Medel ley just wide before tempers appeals were swiftly waved with substitute Alfredo Morelos finishing the second-half rout
were dismissed by Paraguay boiled over as half-time away. C with a header. C