Here are three quick takes from the match.
1. Colombia win, Brazil lose their heads
Colombia secure revenge, as well as rebirth, while Brazil endure only rancour, red cards and renewed doubt about their future. Jose Pekerman's reinvigorated side made amends for the 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Brazil, but also remade their case that they can win this Copa America, as they showed just how limited Dunga's side are.
Jeison Murillo's 36th-minute goal from a set piece -- his first for his country -- came toward the end of a first half that Colombia totally dominated. All Brazil could offer in response in the second was repeatedly bad crosses and Neymar anger as the latter got involved in an altercation with Murillo and substitute Carlos Bacca after appearing to strike the ball at Pablo Armero after the whistle. Neymar was given a red card for the incident.
Brazil were made to look second best.
Despite the inclusion of a Radamel Falcao still below his best, Pekerman restored balance and verve to Colombia's formation, and it meant they quickly took command of the game. The solitary goal came after a period of concerted pressure, and a free kick from the reborn Juan Cuadrado that caused chaos in the Brazilian box, with Murillo then turning it back under goalkeeper Jefferson.
It was deserved, and decisive.
Neymar did almost equalise shortly before halftime, only for David Ospina to pull off one of the saves of the tournament. The Arsenal goalkeeper then offered the opposite of that shortly after halftime, only for his dreadful mix-up with Murillo to be trumped in haplessness by Roberto Firmino, who skied an easy chance over the bar.
It still wouldn't have been warranted. Brazil never looked as cohesive or imaginative as Colombia, nor did they seem as dependable at the back.
In between those moments, Neymar first got the yellow card that will keep him out of what could yet be a decisive game against Venezuela, while his red card at the game's conclusion disqualifies him from the quarterfinals -- should Brazil advance that far.
Colombia have transformed their fortune in a different way. They effectively had to avoid defeat here to prevent an early elimination. Now, everyone else will be looking to avoid them.
2. Brazil have so little
Neymar lost his cool, Brazil lost the game, and it all means they have also lost the initiative in this group.
That reflects the reality that this current team are nowhere near as authoritative as their mere name or their headstrong manager would suggest. Beyond Neymar, who himself was not at his best, there is not all that much to this side, and it is clear that Dunga hasn't yet fixed many of the problems that were so evident in the World Cup.
The most obvious is how ill-fitting the side look. They don't play with any cohesion and it is telling that the only time there is any smoothness about their play is when Neymar is on the ball. Consider the pattern of the second half. Despite Dunga eventually introducing Coutinho, Diego Tardelli and Douglas Costa, Brazil could still do little other than just repeatedly try unimaginative crosses that Colombian defenders like Edwin Valencia so easily headed back. It became the most frequent image of the match.
It's the type of tactic that functional, midtable Premier League sides offer. It is not the tactic Brazil should offer, even a generation as limited as this. What was all the more galling was that it started before the half-hour mark.
That is lamentable. That illustrates Brazil are just one of the pack in this tournament. They could yet dig their way in to win it, but it says much that that is what they must try to have a chance of doing so.
Now with an upwardly mobile Venezuela yet to play, Brazil are far from secure.
Neymar lost his cool, Brazil lost the game, and it all means they have also lost the initiative in this group.
That reflects the reality that this current team are nowhere near as authoritative as their mere name or their headstrong manager would suggest. Beyond Neymar, who himself was not at his best, there is not all that much to this side, and it is clear that Dunga hasn't yet fixed many of the problems that were so evident in the World Cup.
The most obvious is how ill-fitting the side look. They don't play with any cohesion and it is telling that the only time there is any smoothness about their play is when Neymar is on the ball. Consider the pattern of the second half. Despite Dunga eventually introducing Coutinho, Diego Tardelli and Douglas Costa, Brazil could still do little other than just repeatedly try unimaginative crosses that Colombian defenders like Edwin Valencia so easily headed back. It became the most frequent image of the match.
It's the type of tactic that functional, midtable Premier League sides offer. It is not the tactic Brazil should offer, even a generation as limited as this. What was all the more galling was that it started before the half-hour mark.
That is lamentable. That illustrates Brazil are just one of the pack in this tournament. They could yet dig their way in to win it, but it says much that that is what they must try to have a chance of doing so.
Now with an upwardly mobile Venezuela yet to play, Brazil are far from secure.
Juan Cuadrado was his old self as Colombia had Brazil on the back foot for much of the match.
3. Pekerman revives Colombia
It was fitting that Colombia righted their last result from the World Cup, because this was finally much more like the team that so commanded attention in Brazil.
They were pulsating in attack in the first half, and so powerful in defence in the second. That is all the more impressive because this was not a Colombian team at full strength and they won't be while Pekerman persists in playing Falcao, who is so clearly short of full strength himself. However, the Argentine coach has still worked out a way to restore verve to the side while also retaining the Chelsea striker.
That is almost an act of alchemy, and it meant Rodriguez was more able to impose his magic on the game in the first half. He was so much more involved, so much more central than in the defeat to Venezuela. Cuadrado, meanwhile, was back to his bewitching best. Brazil could barely handle his unpredictability.
That will all obviously make some difference, but perhaps the player who proved the biggest difference in this match was Carlos Sanchez.
He effectively represented everything that Brazil didn't have in midfield, a properly strong link between defence and attack. It meant that the Aston Villa reserve -- and that in itself bears dwelling on given the exceptional quality of his performance -- dominated the centre of the pitch.
He was ably assisted by players like the goal scorer Murillo. He didn't just hit the winner, but also alleviated pressure with some surging runs.
Pekerman meanwhile has more than alleviated pressure on this side. He has restored Colombia to a position of prominence in this group, and in this Copa America.
After going so close to going out, Colombia will now surely go close to winning it.
Story by: Miguel Delaney
It was fitting that Colombia righted their last result from the World Cup, because this was finally much more like the team that so commanded attention in Brazil.
They were pulsating in attack in the first half, and so powerful in defence in the second. That is all the more impressive because this was not a Colombian team at full strength and they won't be while Pekerman persists in playing Falcao, who is so clearly short of full strength himself. However, the Argentine coach has still worked out a way to restore verve to the side while also retaining the Chelsea striker.
That is almost an act of alchemy, and it meant Rodriguez was more able to impose his magic on the game in the first half. He was so much more involved, so much more central than in the defeat to Venezuela. Cuadrado, meanwhile, was back to his bewitching best. Brazil could barely handle his unpredictability.
That will all obviously make some difference, but perhaps the player who proved the biggest difference in this match was Carlos Sanchez.
He effectively represented everything that Brazil didn't have in midfield, a properly strong link between defence and attack. It meant that the Aston Villa reserve -- and that in itself bears dwelling on given the exceptional quality of his performance -- dominated the centre of the pitch.
He was ably assisted by players like the goal scorer Murillo. He didn't just hit the winner, but also alleviated pressure with some surging runs.
Pekerman meanwhile has more than alleviated pressure on this side. He has restored Colombia to a position of prominence in this group, and in this Copa America.
After going so close to going out, Colombia will now surely go close to winning it.
Story by: Miguel Delaney
Miguel Delaney is a London-based correspondent for ESPN FC and also writes for the Irish Examiner and others. Follow him on Twitter@MiguelDelaney.
Source: Espn.com
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