ATLANTA, Georgia: Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Colombia in California on Tuesday confirmed a Copa America quarter-final against Uruguay.
Colombia, who have seven points in Group D, will lock horns with Panama in the last eight games.
Brazil’s Rafinha’s early strike put them in front, but Daniel Munoz’s first-half strike for Colombia canceled out their opponents’ advantage.
The result extended Colombia’s unbeaten run to 26 matches, but also brought it to a 10-game winning streak.
“It’s a game we all want to play to measure ourselves in a good moment for the team. I think we took another step today,” said Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo.
“With Brazil, you can not underestimate the team for a second. The feeling is satisfying against a difficult opponent and now we will think about Panama.”
Brazilian defender Marinhos said the team was not yet firing on all cylinders.
“We have to be honest with ourselves, we still have a lot to improve, especially in this big game.”
The match between Colombia, unbeaten since March 2022, and five-time World Cup winners Brazil proved to be a firecracker as the two sides traded blows straight from the spot.
In the first fifteen minutes at the Levi’s Stadium, Vinicius Jr. was given a yellow card after he accidentally tackled James Rodríguez, who played the ball loose from the Uruguayan playmaker.
Rodríguez cut the free kick and scored the key.
But in the 12th minute, Raphinha fired a superb free kick from the top corner to give Brazil the lead.
Colombia thought they had equalized when Dawson Sanchez headed in a dangerous cross from Rodriguez, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR review.
Brazil wanted a penalty in the 42nd minute when Munoz brought down Vinicius in the box, but television replays showed the Colombian defender touched the ball.
Colombian striker Jhon Cordoba then found a partner on the edge of the area and made a superb play on Munoz’s shot, making it home to equalize in the first half.
Despite the California heat, neither side let up the intensity after the break and Rafinha came close to scoring another free-kick in the 59th minute, firing from the side of the goal.
Colombia also had chances to score in the second half, the best coming from substitute Rafael Borre, who fired home from close range.
Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas could not stop Brazilian substitute Andreas Pereira’s long-range effort.
