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Argentina Beats Brazil 1-0 to Win Copa America, 1st Major Title in 28 Years

Reuters

   RIO DE JANEIRO - Argentina won their first major title in 28 years on
   Saturday and Lionel Messi finally won his first medal in a
   blue-and-white shirt when an AngelDiMaria goal gave them a 1-0 win over
   Brazil and a record-equaling 15th Copa America.

   Di Maria, starting for just the second time in the Copa, justified his
   selection by scoring the opener midway through the first half.

   Renan Lodi failed to cut out a long ball forward from Rodrigo De Paul
   and Di Maria lobbed the stranded Ederson with aplomb.

   Brazil piled on the pressure in an exciting second half but even with
   five strikers on the field they could not get an equalizer against an
   Argentine defense protected by the outstanding Rodrigo De Paul.

   "First, we have to congratulate our opponents especially for the first
   half when they neutralized us," Brazilian defender Thiago Silva said.

   "In the second half, there was no contest -- only one team tried to
   play football, the other just wasted time as we knew they would. It's
   not an excuse, we didn't do what we had to, principally in the first
   half."

   Argentina's win was a particular triumph for Barcelona striker Messi,
   who picked up his first-ever title in a blue-and-white shirt after more
   than a decade of club and individualhonors.

   The Argentine players surrounded their captain at the final whistle.
   Goalkeeper Emilian Martinez celebrated what he called aMaracanazo, a
   remarkable win at the famous Rio stadium.

   "I'm speechless," he said. "I knew my dream would come true, and where
   better than theMaracanazoand giving the title to the best in the world
   and fulfilling his dream."

   Messi finished the tournament's joint top goalscorer with four goals
   and was elected joint best player along with Neymar.

   But he was quiet throughout the game at the Maracana stadium and
   uncharacteristically missed a golden opportunity to wrap the game up
   with2minutes remaining.

   When the final whistle went, Argentina TV declared "Argentina
   Champions, Lionel Messi Champion!"

   The match itself was a disappointing one, with Argentina the better
   side in a cagey first half that featured 21 fouls.

   However, Brazil came out more aggressively in the second period and as
   the time ticked on,they threw more people forward --and at one point
   having five recognized strikers on the field.

   Richarlisonhad a goal chalked off for offside7minutes into the second
   half and then forced Emiliano Martinez into a good stop2minutes later.

   But as Brazil poured forward gapsopened upand Argentina missed two
   clear chances to score in the dying moments of the match.

   The victory was Argentina's 15th Copa America triumph and means they
   draw level with Uruguay as the all-time leading winners.

   "This is a very big title," Argentine coach LionelScalonisaid. "I hope
   that Argentines can enjoy it. The fans love the team unconditionally
   and I think they identify with this side that never drops its guard."

   Their win extended their sequence of undefeated matches to 20
   underScaloniand handed Brazil their first competitive defeat since they
   lost to Belgium in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup.

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