Ecuador 0 Brazil 0: Underdogs robbed of magical Copa America win after referee misses own goal
Samba goalkeeper Alisson bundled ball into his own net after fumbling a cross but goal was ruled out by bungling linesman
BRAZIL escaped a nightmare start to the Copa America after Samba keeper Alisson almost gifted Ecuador a night in Wonderland.
After 66 slow-burning minutes, left-winger Miler Bolanos burst down the flank after out-running Brazil right-back Dani Alves.
The Gremio man reached the goal line before firing the ball across the box that Internacional stopper Alisson looked set to grab at the front post with minimal fuss.
The linesman on the far side, well out of the ‘keeper’s eyeline, incorrectly raised his flag as the blunder shotstopper somehow carried the ball into his own goal
The 23-year-old looked distraught at his error and dropped his head in shame only for the goal to be ruled out and Ecuadorian dreams dashed.
The third game of the day was desperately short of quality with Brazil playing in the USA without first-team stars like Neymar, David Luiz and Douglas Costa.
Even Chelsea’s chunky looking playmaker Willian could not spice up the dull affair and was withdrawn with 15 minutes left.
Dunga’s men collected three yellow cards in the first half as they tried desperately to end a poor run of form.
The five-time World Cup winners had won just one of their last four competitive games – drawing three of their World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.
And they never looked like taking control of this fixture with well drilled Ecuador comfortably frustrating the favourites.
Ecuador had four Premier League stars in the starting XI with Swansea’s Jefferson Montero joining West Ham striker Enner Valencia, Man United man Antonio Valencia and Watford defender Juan Carlos Paredes.
And the Tricolor side coached by Gustavo Quinteros looked almost impenetrable until the 83rd minute.
Substitute Lucas Moura’s rapid diagonal run was met by a deftly chipped ball from deep that he expertly flicked on and looked ready to celebrate before watching the ball graze past the post, in his side's best chance.
Pop star Justin Bieber was pictured in the stands with new best friend Neymar and he might be Sorry he picked this match to visit after 90 long minutes.
Dunga’s gamble on leaving out big players like Real Madrid’s Marcelo and PSG’s Thiago Silva will have to start paying off soon as the boos and cat calls that echoed around at the end will seriously increase in volume if this dross is served up again.