Copa America Final

Brazil defeated Argentina 3-0 last night to retain the Copa America trophy.

The game was pretty much ruined as a spectacle within four minutes, as Julio Baptista turned inside Roberto Ayala and fired the ball into the far corner. Having taken the lead, the Brazilians piled men behind the ball, making it almost impossible for Argentina to play through them.

Despite this, the Argentines manage to fashion two chances for Juan Riquelme, the first of which came off the outside of the post, and the second of which was well saved by Doni in the Brazilian goal. In the closing minutes of the half, Brazil scored a second on the counter-attack, Daniel Alves' cross deflected into his own goal by Ayala.

The second half followed the same pattern, with Argentina often being caught on the break after pushing so many men forward. Free kick after free kick from Riquelme and Lionel Messi were cleared with ease by the Brazilian backline with PSV/Chelsea defender Alex colossal in the air.

The lack of width in the Argentine side was their downfall as they struggled to break through the resolute Brazilian midfield and defense, becoming more and more frustrated as the game wore on.

With Brazil looking ever more dangerous on the counter-attack, a third goal was inevitable. It came in the 69th minute as Wagner Love played in Daniel Alves to fire a sweet first time drive across the goalkeeper into the far corner.

Argentina never really looked like getting back into the game from three goals down and so it proved as Brazil held on to take their eighth Copa America title.