Brazil continued their winning romp through the Copa America on Wednesday, eking out a controversial 2-1 victory against Colombia after struggling most of the match to answer a magnificent bicycle-kick goal by Luis Diaz.
The 11th-hour win gave the Selecao a perfect nine points from three matches in the South American championships, and extended their current winning streak to 11 matches.
However, the victory was steeped in controversy: Brazil’s second-half equalizer, a Roberto Firmino header, was preceded by a Neymar pass that glanced off Argentine referee Nestor Pitana.
Colombia heatedly argued afterward that play should have been stopped, but Pitana, who refereed the 2018 World Cup final, ruled the goal valid after checking the video.
“It’s sad that with all the effort we made against one of the best teams in the world, we lost the match on a call like that,” said Juventus’ Cuadrado.
“A referee with that much international experience, who’s refereed at the World Cup, makes a mistake and hurts the match. We never got past that play.” Disgruntled Colombia fans on social media turned the referee’s name into a viral hashtag, joking he had played as ‘Brazil’s 12th man.’
Insult was added to injury 10 minutes into stoppage time, when Casemiro headed a Neymar corner past a distracted Colombia defense to give Brazil the win.
However, Colombia, who are second in Group B with four points from four matches, still secured a spot in the quarter-finals.
In the early match, Ecuador and Peru failed to settle who advances to the quarter-finals, drawing 2-2 in Goiania.