Brazil dominates Argentina to win Copa America crown
Last Updated: Monday, July 16, 2007 | 12:43 AM ET
The Associated Press
Even without some top stars, Brazil still won its second straight Copa America title.
Julio Baptista scored in the fourth minute, an own goal doubled the lead in the 40th and Daniel Alves got the final goal in the 69th as the Brazilians stunned favoured Argentina 3-0 Sunday to win South America's championship for the eighth time.
Brazil's Robinho celebrates his nation's victory, 3-0 against Argentina, at the conclusion of the Copa America final Sunday in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
(Marcelo Hernandez/Associated Press)
"Lots of people criticized our team, but we're the champions," said Brazil forward Robinho, the tournament's top scorer with six goals.
While Argentina brought its top players and appeared unstoppable throughout most of the tournament, Brazil was missing stars such as Ronaldinho and Kaka, who decided to skip the tournament after the long European club season. The Brazilians edged Uruguay 5-4 on
penalty kicks in the semifinals after a 2-2 tie.
"My players demonstrated they're capable of great things," Brazil coach Dunga said. "Argentina was the press and everyone's favourite, but the game is decided on the field over 90 minutes."
Brazil defeated Argentina 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie to win the 2004 final in Lima, Peru. The Brazilians have won four of the last five Copa titles — the exception was when Colombia won at home in 2001 — and eight in all. But in last year's World Cup, Brazil was eliminated by France in the quarter-finals.
"We came to rescue the self-esteem of the Brazilian worker, who wakes up in the morning and returns home late at night, whose only satisfaction in life is seeing Brazil win a football match," Dunga said.
Argentina shares the record of 14 Copa titles with Uruguay but has none since 1993.
"Losing like this makes you angry, but there's nothing more we can do but wait for another final," Argentina star forward Lionel Messi said.
Baptista put Brazil ahead on its first foray forward, picking up a bouncing ball just inside the penalty area and spinning it into the far side of the goal past surprised goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, who had no chance.
Argentina had an opportunity to tie five minutes later when Juan Sebastian Veron redirected a cross from Messi to an unmarked Juan Roman Riquelme, but he slammed the ball off a post from 12 yards.
Argentina defender Roberto Ayala put Brazil ahead 2-0 when he slid in an attempt to clear a cross into the 6-yard box from Daniel Alves, who had replaced injured Elano in the 33rd minute.
The cross was headed toward Abbondanzieri but Ayala poked the ball into his own goal.
"We knew we had to be awake today, but instead we were caught falling asleep," Argentina forward Carlos Tevez said. "It makes you angry being unable to win and close out an exceptional tournament."
Daniel Alves's second-half goal came on an angled shot from about 15 yards off a pass from Vagner Love, who led a counter.
"We're totally ruined," Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso said. "Losing like this hurts your soul."
