Brazil Beats Equador and Moves Into QF of Copa

Alexandre Pato and Neymar netted two goals apiece as defending champion Brazil beat Ecuador 4-2 in Cordoba to advance to the Copa America quarter-finals as Group B winner.

Defeat for Mano Menezes' side at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes would have sent it crashing out of the competition, but it produced a battling display to earn a last-eight date with pool rival Paraguay.

Felipe Caicedo twice got Ecuador back on level terms, cancelling out Pato's opener and then Neymar's effort, but the Selecao moved up a gear when required to do so to ensure its progress - and Ecuador's exit.

Menezes handed Maicon a starting berth at the expense of Barcelona's Dani Alves, the Inter Milan man turning in a star performance for Brazil, while Robinho also returned to the starting XI.

The Brazilians bossed proceedings from the outset but struggled to create clear-cut chances early on.

The deadlock was broken in the 27th minute when Andre Santos crossed from the left and Pato headed home.

Robinho struck the bar as Brazil searched for a second goal, with Maicon's marauding runs down the right causing all sorts of problems for Ecuador.

However, the next goal of the game arrived at the other end, Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar failing to hold onto a Caicedo effort on the counter-attack eight minutes before the interval.

Brazil restored its advantage within four minutes of the restart, Pato setting up Santos star Neymar to make it 2-1, but once again the lead was short-lived as another Caicedo shot from outside the box found its way past Julio Cesar in the 58th minute.

Ecuador may have been sensing a shock was on the cards, but when Brazil went ahead for a third time there was no way back.

Goalkeeper Marcelo Elizaga could not hold onto a Neymar shot and Pato pounced on the loose ball to make it 3-2 on the hour mark and then, 11 minutes later, Neymar notched his second after good play on the right by Maicon and Robinho.

The result left Brazil top of the group ahead of surprise package Venezuela - which will play Chile in the quarter-finals - and third-placed Paraguay, with Ecuador bottom of the pile.

Argentina finally show up at the Copa America, Lionel Messi Shines

Lionel Messi evades Costa Rica players

Argentina have shrugged off indifferent form in their first two matches to beat Costa Rica 3-0, advancing in the process to the Copa America quarterfinals.

Sergio "Kun" Aguero opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, and added a second just seven minutes into the second half of the match on Monday. The 52nd minute goal came after Aguero was set up by a pass from Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who showed his best form of the tournament.

Angel di Maria, who plays his club football at Real Madrid, scored Argentina's third in the 64th minute, sealing a win that revives pre-tournament expectations that the side would challenge for the title.

Argentina now have five points from three matches, having drawn their previous two encounters, and finish second in Group A. Colombia won the group with seven points.

Aguero is now the leading scorer in the tournament so far, with three goals. Argentina, playing on home soil, are seeking to end an 18-year drought in major tournaments.

Under the Copa America format, the top two sides from each of the three groups advance, being joined by the best two third-place teams.

Argentina will now face either Chile, Peru or Uruguay in the quarterfinals, depending on who finishes second in Group C. Colombia will face the third-placed team from those countries.

Groups B and C will be settled on Tuesday and Wednesday. Costa Rica have still not been eliminated, despite Monday's loss, and await the outcome of other matches.

Argentina applied constant pressure in the first half, with Aguero breaking through just before the interval, slotting away a rebound past Costa Rica goalkeeper Leonel Moreira.

In the 52nd minute, he latched onto a through ball from Messi, tucking his shot inside the far post.

Messi set up the third goal, too, finding Di Maria, who slammed the ball into the back of the net from 15 yards out.

Sergio Batista, the Argentina coach and former World Cup winner, fielded an attacking line-up, with Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Di Maria playing just in front of playmaker Messi.

Forwards Carlos Tevez and Ezequiel Lavezzi started on the bench, after having two poor matches in the tournament.

The new lineup looked far more settled, with Messi bossing the game as he has so far failed to do in the tournament.

Ricardo La Volpe, the Costa Rica coach, appeared to be playing for a draw from the start.

Costa Rica have been playing a young squad, composed largely of under-23 internationals, as they are a guest side in the tournament, and their senior side just finished playing the Gold Cup in the United States last month.

Chile, Peru almost to QF of Copa America

While favourites Argentina and Brazil struggle for form, Chile and Peru are awakening from years of slumber at the Copa America after moving to the brink of the quarter-finals on Friday.

Peru won the last of their two South American championships in 1975 in the halycon days of the gifted Teofilo Cubillas, who would go on to prove a star turn at the 1978 World Cup. Chile, meanwhile, have been bridesmaids at four finals but never the continental bride.

That may change if promising starlet Alexis Sanchez has his way. The Barcelona target scored to land a precious 1-1 draw with fancied Uruguay and leave the Chileans with four points — surely enough to start looking forward to the last eight.

Peru are joint top of Group C with the Chileans, having earned four points of their own after Paolo Guerrero's second goal of the tournament saw off inexperienced Mexico 1-0 in Mendoza.

With both joint leaders having held Uruguay and defeated the Mexicans, regular special guests at the South American event, Peru and Chile can look forward to a Pacific "clasico" on Tuesday with the pressure largely off. A draw will send both sides through while Uruguay will have to beat Mexico to ensure their own passage.

A third straight draw would leave Diego Forlans' Charruas, like Argentina chasing a record 15th title, perched on the precipice. Sanchez came to the event trying hard to put aside reports of interest in his talents from European champions Barcelona.

But his instinctive finish just after the hour mark to level Alvaro Pereira's opener eight minutes into the second half served to underline the talent of the 22-year-old from Tocopillo.

Chile coach Claudio Borghi is emerging as the would-be purist at the championships as his side have turned in some of the most entertaining football compared to the sterile fare of the hosts and Brazil.

Brazil late show to draw with Paraguay in Copa, risk of elimination

Holders Brazil jeopardised their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Copa America on Saturday after they just pulled out a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Paraguay.

After taking a first-half lead through new face Jadson the five-times world champions trailed 2-1 with barely a minute remaining before Fred saved his side after the favourites had stared defeat in the face.

Paraguay were left to kick themselves after coming so close to an upset victory.

“We had it won and then we go and let them off the hook,” stormed Argentine-born midfielder Nestor Ortigoza.

Brazil coach Mano Menezes recognised fans were not impressed by their team to date.

“The Copa is a tough tournament. But I do understand the anxiety of the fans - we’re looking for solutions,” he insisted.

Menezes sprung a surprise at the outset in dropping Robinho to the bench after his poor showing in the auriverde’s opening goalless draw with Venezuela.

That result, which came despite Menezes selecting an attacking line-up, prompted a rethink and AC Milan star Robinho exited to allow Jadson a chance to prove himself.

The Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder started off by getting himself booked but six minutes before the break he fired home a crisp low shot from outside the area to spark jubilation among the yellow-clad hordes at the Mario Kempes stadium.

But a muted Brazilian side who, like winless hosts Argentina, are struggling badly at the South American showcase event, then went to sleep and almost paid a heavy price.

Eleven minutes after the restart Paraguay, desperate to get more points on the board after Ecuador held them in their opening encounter, were level through Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz.

The veteran fired in after outmuscling Julio Cesar following a pinpoint cross from the left by Marcelo Estigarribia.

Ten minutes later, and with Brazil, having sent on Elano for Jadson, strangely unwilling to regain their grip on proceedings after the equaliser, it was 2-1 to the Paraguayans with Nelson Haedo Valdez bundling in a deflected effort which looped home.

Brazil fullback Daniel Alves lost the ball to Santa Cruz, who found Valdez and his shot deflected in on the rebound as he collided with Thiago Silva.

With just a quarter of the match left, Menezes reacted by withdrawing Chelsea’s Ramires and throwing on Liverpool’s Lucas.

He then also withdrew the disappointing Neymar for Fred in a final throw of the dice with nine minutes remaining and that finally unlocked the door as the reserve striker struck at the death to deny the Paraguayans a famous win.

Paraguay, twice continental champions - their last title came in 1979 - now are provisionally joint top of Group B with Brazil, both having two points.

Albiceleste stumble again against Colombia in Copa

Argentina stumbled to a 0-0 draw against Colombia in the Copa America on Wednesday; another disappointing result for the host nation which threatens its passage to the knock-out stage.

The match was similar to Argentina's 1-1 draw in the opener against Bolivia with coach Sergio Batista sticking with nearly the same starters, led by a misfiring Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez.

Argentina has two points from one game and trails group leader Colombia, which has four points from two games. Bolivia, on one point, and Costa Rica, on nil, will play Thursday. The top two teams in the group advance automatically to the quarterfinals while the best two third-place teams from the three groups also advances.