Four sent off as Brazil reach quarter-finals

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and his assistant Flavio Murtosa were among four men sent off as the defending champions beat Paraguay 3-1 on Wednesday to reach the Copa America quarter-finals.

Peru joined Brazil in the last eight with a 1-0 win over Mexico in the opening game of the group B double bill. The Mexicans, who suffered their first defeat and conceded their first goal under coach Javier Aguirre, had already qualified.

Brazil took the field wearing their traditional yellow strip, to the surprise of many commentators who thought they might wear blue, as they did when they beat Peru 2-0 on Sunday to end a run of six games without a win.

Scolari's side, needing a draw to go through, were facing a humiliating first round elimination when Guido Alvarenga converted a penalty for Paraguay in the 11th minute.

Despite controlling the game and hitting the crossbar twice, Brazil could not find a way past goalkeeper Ricardo Tavarelli and their frustration showed when defender Roque Junior was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 55th minute.

But, five minutes later, Alex equalised and two goals in the dying minutes from full-back Belletti and man-of-the-match Denilson gave Brazil victory and top place in the group with six points.

Scolari, better known as Big Phil, celebrated the equaliser by making an offensive gesture towards the referee and was sent off.

SCUTTLING SCOLARI

Instead of leaving the touchline area, Scolari hid on the stairs which lead down to the dressing rooms with only the top of his head above the surface, and he scuttled inside like a giant crab every time officials looked in his direction.

Murtosa took Scolari's place but he was later sent off for dissent. Paraguay full-back Denis Caniza also received a red card for hitting an opponent.

Scolari verbally attacked the officials at the end. "We played against 12 and 13. It's a joke to have this type of refereeing," he said.

Mexico finished second with four points. Peru, who also ended on four points, went through as one of the two best third placed teams.

Roberto Holsen scored the only goal in the 48th minute against Mexico as Peru ended a run of four games without a victory.

A bad tempered game boiled over in the 62nd minute with a brawl which ended in red cards for Mexico striker Jared Borgetti and Peru striker Dario Muchotrigo.

All four countries were without their top players on Wednesday.

Most teams are taking part in the Copa America without their top players due to fixture congestion and chaotic organisation by the South American Football Confederation, which staged the tournament at six days' notice after earlier postponing it until next year.

Argentina, the continent's strongest team, pulled out and were replaced by Honduras.