Victories, titles and penalty shootout defeats: a look back at some
of the great clashes between the two sides in football's oldest
international competition
On Saturday Brazil will be reunited with the side responsible for
their demise four years ago. In the 2011 Copa America, Mano
Menezes’ Selecao were sent packing from the competition following
a bizarre and disastrous penalty shootout in La Plata. However,
history bodes well for Brazil ahead of Saturday's quarter-final
clash, with the the five-time world champions usually getting the
better of the Albirroja. Below, Chevrolet Brasil Global
Tour takes a look back at some historic encounters between the
two in football’s oldest international competition.
First official encounter
The first official meeting between Paraguay and Brazil took place
at the Estadio Sportivo Barracas in Buenos Aires on October 12,
1921. The format that year saw one group of five nations, though
Chile later withdrew to reduce the competition to just Brazil,
Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Brazil had gone down 1-0 to
Argentina in their opener but bounced back with a 3-0 victory over
Paraguay, thanks to two first-half goals from Machado and one
from Candiota. Lining up for Paraguay that day was Manuel Fleitas
Solich, who would have a successful coaching career in Brazil which
would include stints with Flamengo, Fluminense, Corinthians,
Atletico-MG and Palmeiras.
First home victory for Brazil
Brazil team, 1922 (Photo:ca2011.com)
The following year Brazil hosted, and won, the Copa America,
earning their first home victory over the Paraguayans in the
tournament. Once again the score was 3-0, this time seeing the
Selecao bouncing back from a 1-1 draw to take the title in a play-
off match after the two sides ended the group locked on five points
(Uruguay also ended with five points but withdrew the competition).
Corinthians idol Neco gave Brazil the lead before Formiga struck
twice to round off the victory at the Estadio das Laranjeiras, home
of Fluminense.
First defeat
Paraguay had to wait until November 11, 1923 to earn their first
victory over Brazil. After a goalless first half, Ildefonso Lopez
struck the only goal of the game at Parque Central, Montevideo, in
what was a disappointing tournament for the Selecao as they lost
all three matches.
Copa America final 1949
Copa America 1949 saw Brazil end a 27-year wait for the title
as they stormed to victory at home by hitting a stunning 46 goals
in just eight matches. The hosts blew away the competition, but their
lone defeat, a 2-1 loss to Paraguay, left the two sides joint-top of
the group on 12 points from seven matches. Once again a playoff
was needed to decide the title, and Brazil continued their stunning
form by thrashing Paraguay 7-0 at the Estadio Sao Januario. So
dominant was Brazil’s performance that Paraguay’s man-of-the-
match was goalkeeper Sinforiano Garcia, whose showing was so
impressive he was promptly snapped by Flamengo.
Brazil team, 1949 (Photo: ca2011.com)
Paraguay ride to glory in 1953
1953 saw the two sides meet again, this time in Peru, as
Paraguay marched to the first major title in their history. Now led
by coach Solich, they once again finished tied on points with Brazil
and were required to face yet another playoff for the title. On
April 1, at National Stadium in Lima, first-half goals from Atilio
Lopez, Manuel Gavilan and Ruben Fernandez saw the Paraguayans
race into a three-goal lead. A Brazil side that included the likes of
Nilton Santos, Didi and Julinho Botelho got back into the game with
two goals from Baltazar but went down 3-2.
Copa America Semi-finals
In 1979 Paraguay claimed their second
Copa America title
In 1979 the Copa America had no fixed hosts. Brazil and
Paraguay met in a two-legged semi-final, with the first match taking
place on October 24 at the Defensores del Chaco in Asuncion.
Goals from Eugenio Morel and Hugo Talavera gave the hosts a 2-1
victory. A week later a 2-2 draw at the Maracana saw Paraguay
progress to the final where they would eventually see off Chile.
Brazil got revenge four years later in the next edition of the
tournament when Eder’s 88th minute equaliser earned the Selecao a
1-1 draw back in Asuncion before a goalless tie in Uberlandia saw
Brazil progress to the final where they would eventually lose to
Uruguay.
Quarter-final meetings
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