Semifinals and finals. Paraguay joined the three group winners, having to defend its title against Brazil. Tough luck.
Gustavo Adolfo BENÍTEZ Olimpia
Roberto CABAÑAS New York Cosmos (USA)
Rogelio Wilfrido DELGADO Olimpia
Roberto Eladio FERNÁNDEZ Cerro Porteño
Darío FIGUEREDO Cerro Porteño
Aldo FLORENTÍN Cerro Porteño
Pedro GARAY Sol de America
Ramón Ángel María HICKS Libertad
Justo Pastor JACQUET Cerro Porteño
Alfredo Damián MENDOZA Cerro Porteño
Fidel MIÑO Olimpia
Víctor Milcíades MOREL Libertad
Carlos OLMEDO Libertad
Julio César ROMERO New York Cosmos (USA)
Oscar SURIÁN Libertad
Juan Bautista TORALES Libertad
Coach: Ramón RODRÍGUEZ
Paraguay hold its ground and both legs ended in a tie. But… Brazil scored a goal away and thanks to the rule of away goals qualified to the final. Paraguay at least surrendered the title unbeaten.
13.10.83 Asunción, Defensores del Chaco
PAR – BRA 1:1 (0:0)
(55,000) Gastón Castro CHI
PAR: Fernández – Figueredo, Surián, Delgado, Torales – Benítez (Olmedo), Florentín,
Romero, Hicks (Miño) – Morel, Mendoza
BRA: Leão – Paulo Roberto, Márcio, Mozer, Junior – Andrade, Jorginho, Tita (Renato), Renato Gaúcho – Careca, Éder
1:0 Morel 70, 1:1 Éder 88
BRA – PAR 0:0
(75,000) Juan Carlos Loustau ARG
BRA: Leão – Leandro, Mozer, Junior, Márcio – Andrade, Jorginho, Renato (Tita), Renato Gaúcho (Careca) – Roberto Dinamita, Éder
PAR: Fernández – Surián, Delgado, Torales, Benítez – Jacquet, Romero, Olmedo, Morel
(Mendoza (Garay)) – Florentín, Cabañas
sent off: Andrade (79) / Cabañas (79)
Uruguay decided the outcome of the other semi-final when visiting – they won in Peru.
13.10.83 Lima, Nacional
PER – URU 0:1 (0:0)
(28,000) Sergio Vásquez CHI
PER: Acasuzo – Duarte, Requena, Aguayo, Díaz – Olaechea, Velásquez, Reyna (73 Casanova) -Muñoz (58 Malásquez), Navarro, Caballero
URU: Rodríguez – Diogo, Gutiérrez, Acevedo, Agresta – González, Barrios, Cabrera – Aguilera (80 Saralegui), Francéscoli, Acosta (77 Ramos)
0:1 Aguilera 65 (79 Rodríguez saved a penalty from Navarro)
20.10.83 Montevideo, Centenario
URU – PER 1:1 (0:1)
(58,000) Arturo Ithurralde ARG
URU: Rodríguez – Diogo, Gutiérrez, Acevedo, Agresta – González, Barrios, Cabrera – Aguilera (75 Saralegui), Francéscoli, Acosta (71 Ramos)
PER: Acasuzo – Duarte, Requena, Aguayo, Díaz – Olaechea, Velásquez, Leguía – Malásquez, Navarro, Caballero
0:1 Malásquez 24 h, 1:1 Cabrera 49 h
sent off: Saralegui (85) / Duarte (85)
And that was how Uruguay and Brazil reached the final. More or less, it was described already, so just statistics:
27.10.83 Montevideo, Centenario
URU – BRA 2:0 (1:0)
(65,000) Héctor Ortiz PAR
URU: Rodríguez – Diogo, Gutiérrez, Acevedo, Agresta – González, Barrios, Cabrera – Aguilera
(85 Bossio), Francéscoli, Acosta (75 Ramos)
BRA: Leão – Leandro, Márcio, Mozer, Junior – China (60 Tita), Jorginho, Renato – Renato
Gaúcho, Roberto Dinamita, Éder
1:0 Francéscoli 41 f, 2:0 Diogo 80
Earlier it was said that 3 goals were scored in this game – and it is true, to a point. In the 40th minute Francescoli scored, but strangely the referee called for a free kick. Francescoli scored from it – so, there were three goals, but the first was disallowed and thus opening an opportunity for another goal by the same scorer. It was very strnage call and not the only one – later in the game the referee practically did not allow Brazil to score when Uruguayan defender stopped Brazilian striker from going alone to the net by grabbing him with his hands and simply throwing him down. There was no card… nothing.
That’s Francescoli’s goal the referee disallowed – it was perfect advantage, but the man preferred to call a free kick for earlier foul.
04.11.83 Salvador, Fonte Nova
BRA – URU 1:1 (1:0)
(95,000) Edison Pérez PER
BRA: Leão – Paulo Roberto, Márcio, Mozer, Junior – China, Jorginho, Sócrates – Tita
(77 Renato Gaúcho), Roberto Dinamita (43 Careca), Éder
URU: Rodríguez – Diogo, Gutiérrez, Acevedo, Agresta – González, Barrios, Cabrera –
Aguilera (82 Bossio), Francéscoli, Acosta (46 Ramos)
1:0 Jorginho 23, 1:1 Aguilera 77 h
Slower and a bit cleaner game the first one. However, it was in this game injuries happened – ironically, from a normal collision between players just a second before Brazil scored. There was nothing intentional, just Rodolfo Rodriguez and Roberto Dinamita crashed into each other running for the ball. At first it looked like that the goalkeeper would be unable to continue the game and the reserve goalie came out. Roberto Dinamita mean time get back on his feet, seemingly fine. But it was the other way around – Rodolfo Rodriguez managed to recover and continued to play; Roberto Dinamita was shaky and limping and had to be substituted a few minutes after.
Brazil scored at that moment and everything was looking fine – they needed just one more goal, more or less controlling the game. But their efforts proved fruitless, slowly the players became frustrated and panicky, their game deteriorated and Uruguay got the upper hand dominating at least the last 30 minutes of the match.
That was what Uruguay did best: strong, ruthless defense. And deadly counter-attacks started from such clearings. Survival of the fittest, that was all. Those with stronger elbows.
The new Brazil of Parreira. What should be said? Why Socrates did not play in the first leg? Why they missed some fantastic opportunities in Montevideo? And why lost heart in the second half of the home match? Strange Brazil – Tele Santana’s was fun to watch, this version was fighting well, but creatively was next to nothing.
Can’t blame the winners for winning – Uruguay won its 12th South American title, equalizing the record of Argentina.
The champions do not look excited , but can’t blame them for that either – they just finished a war.
And the combined final table of this Copa America.
