Brazil lost 1-0 to Paraguay at the start of the final quadrangle of the Pre-Olympic Tournament and was left with no margin for error for the remaining two games. The two teams that finish first in this second phase of the competition taking place in Venezuela will qualify for this year’s Paris Olympic Games.
The author of the only goal was Fabrizio Peralta, who just before the end of the first half headed a ball that rained into the six-yard box after a clearance. The Cerro Porteño midfielder, who spent a loan at Flamengo, took advantage of the fact that the Brazilian goalkeeper, Mycael, delayed his start.
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A quarter of an hour earlier, Endrick was unable to convert a penalty that would have changed the dynamic of the match at the Brígido Iriarte stadium in Caracas. The maximum penalty came after a foul on the Palmeiras jewel who will play for Real Madrid, but goalkeeper Ángel González blocked the shot from twelve steps.
Brazil, Olympic champion in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, had reached the final quadrangle as leader of Group A after three wins and one loss. Meanwhile, Paraguay was second in Group B, with two games won, one lost and another tied.
The team led by Ramon Menezes will play its next duel on February 8 against the host Venezuela and on the 11th of this same month it will close its participation against Argentina.
The Albiceleste and the Vinotinto tied 2-2 in the second round. The host team equalized with a penalty in the last minute of added time, in a very frictional duel that ended with three being sent off.
