Defending champions Brazil paid the price for a slew of missed opportunities when they were eliminated by Paraguay on penalties in the quarter-final stage of Copa America 2011 on Sunday.
The misses continued after a goalless 120 minutes of soccer as Mano Menezes’ side was unable to convert a penalty kick with Elano, Thiago Silva and Andre Santos missing their chances. Paraguay got successful penalty conversions from Marcelo Estigarribia and Christian Riveros to emerge as 2-0 victors in the shootout. They will now meet the winner of the Chile-Venezuela quarter-final in the tounament semis.
Brazil: Júlio César, Maicon, Lúcio, Thiago Silva, André Santos, Lucas Leiva, Ramires, Paulo Henrique Ganso (Lucas); Robinho, Alexandre Pato (Elano), Neymar (Fred). Técnico: Mano Menezes.
Paraguay: Justo Villar, Antolín Alcaraz, Darío Verón, Paulo da Silva Aureliano Torres (Elvis Marecos) Enrique Vera (Édgar Barreto), Christian Riveros, Víctor Cáceres, Marcelo Estigarribia, Nelson Haedo Valdez, ucas Barrios (Hernán Pérez)