Search This Blog

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Copa America Results - Mexico stun Brazil

Football : Mexico and Chile grab vital wins



PUERTO ORDAZ, Venezuela, June 27, 2007
Mexico upset Brazil for the second straight time at a major tournament, beating the five-time world champions 2-0 Wednesday night in the first round of the Copa America.

Nery Castillo scored on a spectacular solo effort in the 23rd minute when he took a pass from Juan Carlos Cacho, flicked the ball over defender Maicon, collected it again and beat goalkeeper Doni.

Ramon Morales doubled the lead with a 25-yard free kick in the 29th that froze Doni so much that the goalkeeper didn't even attempt to stop it.

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made a half-dozen excellent saves in the second half to keep a clean sheet for El Tri, including several stops on Robinho and a diving save on Afonso in the 62nd.

Robinho, who put the ball over the crossbar on a first-half bicycle kick, saw an angled shot pushed off the crossbar by Ochoa in the second half. Ochoa took over in goal from Oswaldo Sanchez, who has been Mexico's No. 1 keeper in recent years.

Group B : Brazil 0 Mexico 2
Scorers :
Mexico - Nery Castillo 23, Ramon Morales 29

Halftime: 0-2.

-----------------------------------------

In the opener of the Group B doubleheader, Chile rallied twice to beat Ecuador 3-2.

Carlos Villaneuva bent a free kick over a defensive wall and into the upper corner of the net for the winning goal in the 87th minute.

Ecuador, knocked out of last year's World Cup in the second round by England, got goals from Antonio Valencia in the 16th minute and Segundo Castillo in the 23rd. Humberto Suazo scored in the 21st and 80th minutes for Chile.

Group B : Chile 3 Ecuador 2
Scorers :
Chile - Humberto Suazo 21, 80, Carlos Villaneuva 87
Ecuador - Antonio Valencia 16, Segundo Castillo 23

Halftime: 1-2.