Fred's last-gasp equaliser salvages Brazil a draw with Paraguay

Posted Sunday, July 10, 2011 by theguardian.com

Brazil's Fred celebrates with Daniel Alves, left, and Lucas, centre, after his dramatic equaliser against Paraguay in the Copa America.

Brazil needed a goal in the last minute to salvage a draw with Paraguay in their Copa América Group B tie in Córdoba. The substitute Fred took a perfect through pass from Ganso into the area and fired low past Justo Villar.

They had taken the lead six minutes before half-time with a fast counterattack started by Ramires. He fed Ganso who found the midfielder Jádson and he wasted no time shooting from the edge of the box low into the bottom corner.

Roque Santa Cruz equalised 11 minutes after the interval when Brazil failed to clear a Marcelo Estigarribia cross from the left, leaving the striker to shoot into the bottom corner past Júlio César.

Paraguay went ahead in the 68th minute, the dangerous Estigarribia robbing Daniel Alves and squaring a pass to the substitute Nelson Haedo Valdez. His first shot was blocked by Lúcio, but he made no mistake with the second attempt.

Jádson's opening goal lifted a match that was in danger of going flat. Paraguay should have gone ahead after two minutes when Lucas Barrios put Santa Cruz through, but he put his left-footed shot over the bar.

Brazil had a good chance in the 19th minute when Jádson, who was preferred to Robinho, and Ganso combined for the playmaker to feed Pato as the striker cut into the box. He produced a fierce shot which Villar saved with a fine dive.

Enrique Vera had a chance to bury Brazil in the 82nd minute when the midfielder had time to feed the unmarked Haedo Valdez, but fluffed his pass. Villar then tipped a free-kick from Elano over the bar, but could do nothing about Fred's last-gasp equaliser, which left both teams with two points from two games.