Neymar scored one goal and set up another

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Neymar Brazil

Neymar scored one goal and set up another as Brazil opened their Copa America campaign with a 2-1 defeat of Peru in the southern Chilean city of Temuco on Sunday.

Neymar Jr
Neymar Jr

Peru last beat Brazil in 1985 but Ricardo Gareca’s team took the lead in the third minute when Christian Cueva capitalized on some dire defending.
Paris Saint-German defender David Luiz put Jefferson under pressure with a hesitant pass and the goalkeeper’s rushed clearance went straight to Cueva, who rifled a shot into the top corner.
Neymar equalized when he rose uncontested to nod in a curling Dani Alves cross two minutes later.
Brazil failed to translate their dominance into goals and Neymar was guilty of squandering several chances to put his team ahead.
But he made up for those misdemeanors with a moment of pure class in the third minute of stoppage time.
The Barcelona forward slalomed to the edge of the penalty area before threading a pass through a sea of Peru defenders after seeing Douglas Costa’s run through the corner of his eye.
The Shakhtar Donetsk forward then showed impressive composure by drilling a low shot past a lunging Pedro Gallese.
Earlier, Salomon Rondon scored a 60th minute header to hand Venezuela a shock 1-0 victory over Colombia in Rancagua.
Colombia entered the match as firm favorites with a starting lineup that included Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez, Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao and Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado.
But Jose Pekerman’s team looked a shadow of the side that made the quarterfinals of last year’s World Cup in Brazil.
They had David Ospina to thank for not trailing at halftime after the Arsenal goalkeeper denied Rondon and then Ronald Vargas in the first half hour.
At the other end, Falcao was starved of opportunities by Venezuela’s well-organized defence. His best effort was an ambitious long-range lob that failed to trouble goalkeeper Alain Baroja.
Venezuela broke the deadlock on the hour when Alejandro Guerra flicked Juan Arango’s cross into the path of Rondon, whose driving header left Ospina with no chance.
Colombia sprang to life in the final minutes but Baroja kept out shots from Rodriguez and Edwin Cardona to guarantee La Vinotinto un upset victory. Enditem

-Xinhua

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