The 2007 Copa América final was the final match of the 2007 Copa América. It was held on 15 July 2007 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, between Brazil and Argentina. Brazil won 3–0, with goals from Júlio Baptista, a Roberto Ayala own goal and Dani Alves. Brazil won their eighth title, while Argentina could have won their fifteenth.
Background
It was the second consecutive final between Brazil and Argentina; Brazil won the 2004 final on penalties. The match ended 2–2 after extra time: Kily González opened the scoring with a penalty, and Luisão headed an equaliser at the start of the second half. César Delgado put Argentina back into the lead with three minutes of normal time remaining, but Adriano equalised in added time. In the shootout, Brazil's Júlio César saved the first Argentine penalty by Andrés D'Alessandro while Gabriel Heinze missed, and defender Juan scored the winner.
Route to the final BrazilRoundArgentinaOpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult0–2Match 14–13–0Match 24–21–0Match 31–0Team321041+37320142+26311135−24300336−30Final standingsTeam330093+69320182+66310239−63300328−60OpponentResultKnockout stageOpponentResult6–1Quarter-finals4–02–2(5–4 pen.)Semi-finals3–0
Match
Officials Paraguayan Carlos Amarilla was chosen to be the referee, having also refereed the 2004 Final. In the 2007 tournament he refereed two more matches, Uruguay against Peru, and Chile against Mexico, both of the first round.
Team selection Of Argentina's team which took part in the 2004 Final, Roberto Abbondanzieri, Javier Zanetti, Gabriel Heinze, Roberto Ayala, Javier Mascherano, and Carlos Tevez started in the 2007 edition, with Lucho González a starter in 2004 and substitute in 2007. For Brazil, Juan and Maicon started both, with Diego a substitute in both.
Synopsis Brazil took the lead in the fourth minute through Júlio Baptista, set up by Elano. Thirty minutes later, however, Elano went off injured to be replaced by Dani Alves. Alves sent in a cross in the 40th minute, which Ayala deflected for an own goal past Abbondanzieri to double Brazil's lead at half time.
In the 59th minute, Argentina substituted defensive midfielder Esteban Cambiasso for attacking alternative Pablo Aimar. Ten minutes later, Brazil scored their third and final goal: Vágner Love began a counterattack, running up the pitch and setting up Alves to score.
Details
GK 12Doni RB 2 MaiconCB 3 Alex CB 4 Juan (c)LB 6 Gilberto DM 5 MineiroDM 17Josué AM 7 Elano AM 19Júlio Baptista SS 11Robinho CF 9 Vágner Love Substitutions:DF 13 Dani Alves MF 18 Fernando MF 10 Diego Manager:Dunga GK 1 Roberto AbbondanzieriRB 8 Javier ZanettiCB 2 Roberto Ayala (c)CB 15Gabriel MilitoLB 6 Gabriel HeinzeDM 19Esteban Cambiasso DM 14Javier Mascherano CM 20Juan Sebastián Verón AM 18Lionel MessiAM 10Juan Román RiquelmeCF 11Carlos Tevez Substitutions:MF 16Pablo Aimar MF 13Lucho González Manager:Alfio Basile
References
External links Copa América 2007; rsssf.com Copa America 2007 Final; football-lineups.com