Manchester City at the Copa América: Part 6

Manchester City’s South American contingency concluded their international duty for the 2018/19 season with the Copa América Final and Third Place Final. Brazil faced Peru in the final whilst Argentina took on Chile in the bronze match.

First, Brazil. Gabriel Jesus started the match as Ederson and Fernandinho were unused substitutes. Gabriel would grab the spotlight in what resulted in a series of twists and turns for the young striker. Gabriel would provide an assist for Brazil’s opening goal before Peru found an equaliser at the stroke of halftime.

At the restart, Gabriel scored his side’s second goal, but minutes later he was controversially sent off due to a double booking. The Brazilian striker was reduced to tears, and the Seleção played the remaining 20 minutes of the match as they were down to ten men. Nonetheless, they saw out the onslaught of Peruvian players and won the match 3-1 after a last minute penalty. The Copa América title is the first trophy the Brazilian men’s national team have won since the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Meanwhile, Sergio Agüero and Nicolás Otamendi started in the third place match against Chile. Agüero would score the first goal of the game, and Argentina would largely dominate the match. Despite some heated play which saw both sides reduced to ten men, the Argentines edged out their competition and won 2-1.

Whilst the result saw them finish third in the tournament, the Argentines have missed out on yet another opportunity to win a major international tournament. The last time the men’s national team won a competition was the 1993 Copa América.

With the conclusion of the Copa América, City’s South American contingency will now embark on holiday. Meanwhile, several of their Manchester teammates will take on West Ham United in their opening pre-season match on 17 July.