Referee Nestor Pitana inadvertently interfered with play, and the Selecao scored when he let the action continue
Colombia have been left furious by the end of their 2-1 defeat to Brazil in the Copa America group stage on Wednesday, as Roberto Firmino’s 78th-minute equaliser came following a build-up touch of the ball from referee Nestor Pitana and Casemiro’s winner came deep into stoppage time.
Several defenders stopped when Pitana accidentally intervened in a Selecao move, but Tite’s men kept going and Firmino benefited with an easy header. Despite fierce objections from Colombia, the goal was upheld.
Then, 10 minutes into stoppage time, Casemiro slammed a near-post corner kick from Neymar into the net to seal the dramatic result to send Colombia away empty handed.
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What has been said?
“The two goals for Brazil are different situations,” Reinaldo Rueda told reporters. “In the first, I think that the referee’s situation caused distraction in the players.
“Brazil had to go out to find the game, they had a good circulation of the ball and the players who entered had an influence and that is why perhaps [the second half was different].
“But we were incisive and in the end it is a pity that the result could not be achieved.”
Reactions to Brazil vs Colombia ending
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