PERU earned their first competitive victory over Brazil since 1975 with a controversial 1-0 win during last night’s Copa America crunch match.
By George Mills
The result meant that Brazil exited at major tournament at the group stage for the first time in more than 30 years.
The five-time world champions had been heavily fancied to qualify, needing only a point to make it through to the quarter finals of the tournament.
However, with the scores tied at 0-0 until the 75th minute at the Gilette Stadium, Massachusetts, the Canarinho left the door open for Peru to snatch a winner.
Which is exactly what they did – in contentious fashion.
Speedy Peruvian winger Andy Polo burst down the line, roasting a flat-footed Felipe Luis to reach the byline.
He then whipped a fierce ball across the front of goal that evaded the goalkeeper, leaving Raul Ruidiaz to tuck the ball away into an empty net.
Using his hand.
In real time, the goal looked suspiciously like a handball as the ball rocketed off Ruidiaz’s side and powered into the net.
But video replays provided the most damning evidence of the Peruvian number 11’s unsportsmanlike finish, showing that he had clearly deliberately palmed the ball into the open goal.
There was much confusion in the minutes following the strike as the referee marched around the pitch looking paralysed with confusion, consulting with both linesmen and another assistant before finally awarding the all-important goal nearly three minutes later.
“All goals could be reviewed in the amount of time usually spent by players running around celebrating, and the game flow wouldn’t be changed at all,” said one angry viewer.
“It’s ridiculous. Goal line tech at the last World Cup was a start, but that doesn’t help with flagrant missed handball calls.”
Peru will advance to face Colombia in the next round.
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