Copa America: Brazil - Ecuador 4-2: "Selecao" knows how to dance Samba

After two draws, Brazil got their first win after crushing Ecuador with a score of 4-2. This result not only brought them a ticket to the quarterfinals but also helped coach Mano Menezes' team to excellently get the top spot in Group B.

Jadson had a good match against Paraguay (3-3 draw) but he was not named in the starting lineup of Brazil in this match. Instead, Robinho, Neymar and Pato formed the attacking trio of "Selecao". In addition, young player Ganso continued to have the opportunity to play alongside two "seniors" Lucas and Ramires in the midfield area. On the Ecuador side, injury forced Valencia to sit out this match.

Brazil entered the quarter-finals as the top team in Group B - Getty Images

Outclassed in terms of both personnel and class, Brazil quickly pressed the field and easily controlled the match. However, Ecuador showed their concentration by maintaining a solid play in their own half. In the first minutes, Brazil tried very hard to attack but could not penetrate the opponent's solid defense.

It wasn't until the 27th minute, after a moment of brilliance from Pato, that Brazil got what they needed: a goal. From Santos's difficult cross from the left wing, Pato cleverly escaped the Ecuadorian centre-back and headed the ball past goalkeeper Elizaga, leaving him with no reaction.

Thanks to the goal, Brazil played with more excitement. By the 33rd minute, the score could have been doubled for Brazil if Robinho's tap-in from just outside the penalty area had been more accurate. Before that, the person who made the decisive pass for the Milan striker to finish was Maicon with a quick run on the right wing.

While enjoying a certain excitement, Brazil unexpectedly conceded a goal in the 36th minute after a slow reaction from Julio Cesar. From a low shot from just outside the penalty area by Caicedo, the Inter goalkeeper did not have the necessary reflex to prevent the ball from going into the net.

Just before half-time, with their spirits high, Ecuador almost took the lead with a powerful shot from Arroyo from about 20 metres. This time, Julio Cesar was alert and made a spectacular save.

After the break, Brazil re-established the lead after a fairly simple attacking combination in the middle of the field in the 50th minute. From Ganso's pass, an Ecuadorian defender's weak clearance allowed Neymar to run in and beat goalkeeper Elizaga with an accurate shot.

However, the looseness of the defense caused Brazil to concede a goal. In the 59th minute, receiving the ball from his teammate, Caicedo punished the lack of decisiveness of the "Selecao" central defenders and then unleashed a powerful right-footed shot. Goalkeeper Cesar dived but could not save Brazil.

Luckily for Brazil, they had Neymar and Pato. Just two minutes after Ecuador equalized, Brazil took the lead again. Neymar's powerful long-range shot from outside the box left Elizaga with no choice but to push the ball away. Pato quickly swooped in to make it 3-1.

In the 66th minute, Maicon launched a similar kick to Neymar's previous one, but this time goalkeeper Elizaga jumped up and pushed the ball out of bounds. A few minutes later, Pato had a pretty technical move in the penalty area, but in his next kick, the Milan striker shot the ball over the crossbar.

Playing completely dominant, Brazil scored their fourth goal in the 72nd minute. After a lightning-fast attack on the right wing, Maicon made a pass for Neymar to run in and finish close to the goal, scoring his second goal.

With the gap now extended to two goals, Mano Menezes made some personnel adjustments by taking Neymar and Pato off. Brazil continued to press the field in the final minutes and they scored another goal against Ecuador in the 90th minute. However, the referee did not recognize this goal for Robinho because of an offside error, although slow-motion replays showed that the Milan striker was still standing above two defenders before receiving the ball.

The 4-2 win gave Brazil 5 points after 3 matches, meaning they will enter the quarter-finals as the top team in Group B. Venezuela also has 5 points but due to inferior sub-index, they had to accept second place.

(According to TT&VH)