A controversial refereeing decision spared Brazil’s blushes at the Copa America Centenario on Saturday as the five-time world champions opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Ecuador.
Ecuador looked to have taken a sensational lead at the Pasadena Rose Bowl midway through the second half when Brazil goalkeeper Alisson fumbled a cross from Miller Bolanos into his own net as he stooped to gather at the near post, but as Ecuador’s bench and players celebrated, the match officials whistled for a goal-kick after ruling that the ball had gone out of play shortly before Bolanos crossed into the six-yard box.
Replays of the incident appeared to suggest the ball was fractionally still in play and that Brazil had been saved from a losing start to Group B by an refereeing error.
Photo: AFP
Brazil’s players left the field to scattered boos from the 53,158 crowd at the Rose Bowl, scene of the South American giants’ 1994 FIFA World Cup final triumph.
“I saw it 25 times on video just now and the ball never went out completely — maybe 65 percent, but not completely,” Ecuador head coach Gustavo Quinteros said.
“The linesman is so sure of himself even though he is 50 meters away,” the Bolivian said.
Brazil manager Dunga said he had not been close enough to judge whether the goal should have been allowed.
“From the angle I was at it was difficult to see if the ball went out,” Dunga said. “The players who were closer said it did.”
In the day’s other Group B game, Peru got off the mark with a 1-0 victory over Haiti in Seattle which saw striker Paolo Guerrero surpass Teofilo Cubillas as his nation’s leading international goalscorer.
Guerrero, 32, the top goalscorer in the past two editions of the Copa America, headed home his 27th international goal in the 61st minute at CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks NFL team.
The win was just about deserved for Peru, who created the better chances, but struggled to break down a well-organized Haiti defense.
Peru looked to be cruising to three points, but had a scare in the dying seconds when Haiti’s Kervens Belfort somehow headed wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.
Peru next face Ecuador on Wednesday, while Brazil travel to Florida to play Haiti in Orlando at the Citrus Bowl, the venue for the other game on Saturday, a drab 0-0 draw between Costa Rica and Paraguay in Group A.
That match kicked off in sweltering late afternoon temperatures of about 33?C and the energy-sapping conditions contributed to a lackluster spectacle.
Paraguay’s Argentine coach Ramon Diaz slammed the decision to schedule kickoff at a time when temperatures are known to be at their most fierce.
“It was crazy to play at the time we played,” Diaz told a press conference. “I would have liked them [the organizers] to take into consideration the players themselves, they are the main part of the show after all.”
Asked if he had ever been involved in a game played in such conditions, Diaz, who played in Argentina, Italy and Japan during his career, said: “Never. I really think the players should be respected.”
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