05:30 AM- AND WE ARE UNDERWAY!!! THE BATTLE FOR THE SOUTH AMERICAN CROWN BEGINS!! WILL ARGENTINA CLINCH ITS 15TH TITLE OR WILL BRAZIL RETAIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP?
STAT ATTACK
1' KICK OFF!!
2' Brazil with an early attacking surge, looking to peg Argentina in its own half right from the start.
3' BRAZIL BOOKING- Fred gets a very early booking for his challenge on Montiel. It was a reckless challenge.
5' The match seems to be settling as Brazil is keeping possession to dictate the tempo of the match. Argentina allowing the Selecao to have the ball in its their half.
8' Lot of fouls being conceded in the early minutes of the first half. We have also seen some showboating by Neymar in these early minutes, which drew cheers from the limited crowd inside the Maracana.
12' FOUL- Crunching tackle by Lodi on Cristian Romero, who has made a return in Argentina's backline for the final. No signs of his knee injury flaring up as of now.
14' Challenges flying in all around the pitch as Montiel becomes the latest victim of a Casemiro challenge.
16' A prolonged stretch of Argentina pressure around Brazil's penalty-area, which ends with a challenge on Neymar. Currently both number 10s- Neymar and Messi lying on the pitch as play is halted.
18' A patient buildup by Argentina as it make Brazil chase the ball. It is halted by Fred as he takes the ball away from Di Maria.
20' SHOT- Richarlison with a shot at Emi Martinez but it takes a deflection, which takes away all the sting from it.
22' GOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! ARGENTINA TAKES THE LEAD!! DI MARIA SCORESSS!! It was a beautiful finish from the Argentine as he found himself at the end of a beautiful ball from De Paul. The defence splitting pass allowed Di Maria to run clear of the Selecao defence and lob the ball over Ederson.
25' Argentina has done the tough bit- score a goal against the run of play. But, since its 1993 Copa America win, Argentina has an appalling record in finals. It has lost seven of them.
28' Argentina constantly being pressed by Brazil as the urgency to get the equaliser is visible.
29' SHOT- Di Maria shoots at Ederson, which takes a deflection off Marquinhos and falls kindly for the Brazil keeper. Lautaro was lurking for a rebound there.
32' SHOT- Messi with a wonderful run, which concludes with a shot. It flashes wide of Ederson's goal.
33' ARGENTINA BOOKING- Paredes gets a yellow for his challenge on Neymar. Freekick in a dangerous position with Neymar standing over it.
34' Neymar's freekick hits the wall as Argentina clears.
37' Di Maria seems to have pulled up with an injury as he clutches his ankle. This is a worrying sight because there was no challenge on him.
39' Di Maria back on the pitch for now- it is to be seen whether it is temporary or permanent.
42' Half time minutes away and Argentina has done well to restrict Brazil from scoring. Crucial few minutes before the break.
44' A dangerous corner by Neymar as it goes out of wall through a sea of bodies after the initial header by Thiago Silva.
ONE ADDED MINUTE!!
HALF-TIME!! (ARGENTINA 1 BRAZIL 0)
Argentina, against the run of play is leading against the home team at half-time courtesy Di Maria's picture-perfect lobbed goal in the 22nd minute.
Brazil has had the lion's share of attacking threat but Scaloni's men have done a good job of restricting the Selecao up to this point. The Albiceleste, when they have gone forward, have posed a few questions of their own to the Brazil defence as well.
SECOND-HALF UNDERWAY!!!
46' BRAZIL SUB- Roberto Firmino on at the start of the second-half. He replaces Fred.
50' The midfield is where the battle is happening right now. Both teams plying their skills to achieve supremacy in the middle of the park. De Paul has been a solid figure for Argentina in midfield.
51' ARGENTINA BOOKING- Lo Celso sees a yellow from the referee.
52' RICHARLISON PUT THE BALL INSIDE THE NET BUT ITS OFFSIDE!!! BIG LET OFF FOR ARGENTINA. It was Cristian Romero's error which sent Richarlison away in the first place. The Argentine defender will breathe a sigh of relief.
54' ARGENTINA SUB: Guido Rodriguez replaces Leandro Paredes.
55' SHOT- Richarlison again with a blasting shot at Emi Martinez but the keeper saves. Argentina clear the rebound. Waves of Brazilian attack making life difficult for Argentina.
57' The inclusion of Roberto Firmino has changed thing up top for the Selecao as the extra body in attack seems to be paying off.
60' The Argentina backline doesn't look as solid as the first half. The Selecao midfield finding spaces behind the Albiceleste backline.
63' CHANGES- For Argentina, Lo Celso replaced by Nicholas Tagliafico. For Brazil, Vinicius Jr. replaces Everton Soares.
64' Quick feet by Messi as he takes a tumble inside the box. Argentina wants a penalty but referee says nothing doing.
67' SHOT- Messi wriggles away from the Brazil defence to set up Guido Rodriguez for a shot but the midfielder skies the ball.
68' ARGENTINA BOOKING- Rodrigo De Paul booked for his challenge on a speeding Neymar.
70' BRAZIL BOOKING- Renan Lodi booked for his challenge on De Paul.
71' SHOT- Paqueta takes a shot at Emi Martinez's near post but he was closely marked by Tagliafico. The shot is wide.
72' BRAZIL BOOKING- Lucas Paqueta becomes the latest player to get booked.
74' A nice passage of Argentine attack on the counter with Di Maria at the heart of it. We haven't seen much of Argentina attack in the second half.
76' BRAZIL SUB- Emerson and Gabriel Barbosa replaces Lucas Paqueta and Renan Lodi.
78' Penalty shout by Brazil as Barbosa is brought down by Guido Rodriguez. Nothing given. Replay shows Guido got the ball.
79' TRIPLE ARGENTINA CHANGE- Exequiel Palacios, Nicolas Gonzalez and German Pezzella replace Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez and Cristian Romero.
81' ARGENTINA BOOKING- Otamendi sees yellow after a cruching challenge on Neymar. No debate about that.
82' BRAZIL BOOKING- Marquinhos gets booked in the ensuing tussle.
82' SHOT- Barbosa finds a bit of space and shoots at goal but it is only the side-netting.
85' Great recovering challenge by Nicholas Otamendi to prevent Danilo's cross from getting inside the box.
87' SHOT- Gabriel Barbosa with a brilliant volley at Emi Martinez. The goalkeeper equal to it.
88' CHANCE- How has Messi missed there? All he had to do was shoot but the ball got stuck under his feet as Messi tried to to a tad bit much.
89' ARGENTINA BOOKING- Gonzalo becomes the latest player to see the yellow card.
89' Nervy moments as Brazil is coming at Argentina with a flurry of attacks. You'd expect nothing less from this derby.
FIVE ADDED MINUTES!!!
90+2' Momentary reprieve for Argentina as play is stopped as Firmino handled the ball with his hand.
90+3' SHOT- De Paul with the shot but Ederson denies him to keep Brazil in the match.
90+4' Time almost up at the Maracana. It is now or never for the Brazilians.
FULL TIME!!!!! ARGENTINA WIN THE COPA AMERICA FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1993. IT IS THE ALBICELESTE'S 15TH COPA AMERICA TITLE!!! MESSI WINS HIS FIRST SENIOR TITLE WITH HIS NATIONAL TEAM!!!
