Copa America Centenario: Brazil held by Ecuador

Ecuador midfielder Walter Ayovi (left) and Brazil defender Dani Alves vie for the ball in their Copa America Centenario Group B match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Saturday. The match ended goalless. (Photo: AP)

A controversial refereeing decision spared Brazil’s blushes at the Copa America Centenario on Saturday as the five-time world champions opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Ecuador.

Ecuador looked to have taken a sensational lead at the Pasadena Rose Bowl midway through the second half when Brazil goalkeeper Alisson fumbled a cross from Miller Bolanos into his own net as he stooped to gather at the near post.

But as Ecuador’s bench and players celebrated, the match officials whistled for a goal kick, after ruling that the ball had gone out of play shortly before Bolanos crossed into the six-yard box.

Replays of the incident appeared to suggest the ball was fractionally still in play and that Brazil had been saved from a losing start to Group B by an officiating error.

Brazil’s players left the field to scattered boos from the 53,158 crowd at the Rose Bowl, scene of the South American giants’ 1994 World Cup final triumph.

“I saw it 25 times on video just now and the ball never went out completely — maybe 65 per cent but not completely,” said Ecuador head coach Gustavo Quinteros.

“The linesman is so sure of himself even though he is 50 metres away,” the Bolivian complained.

Brazil manager Dunga said he hadn’t been close enough to judge whether the goal should have been allowed.

“From the angle I was at it was difficult to see if the ball went out,” Dunga said.

“The players who were closer said it did.”

In the day’s other Group ‘B’ game, Peru got off the mark with a 1-0 victory over Haiti in Seattle which saw striker Paolo Guerrero surpass Teofilo Cubillas as his country’s leading international goalscorer.

Guerrero, 32, the top goalscorer in the past two editions of the Copa America, headed home his 27th international goal in the 61st minute at CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks NFL team.

The win was just about deserved for Peru, who created the better chances but struggled to break down a well-organised Haiti defense.

Peru looked to be cruising to three points but had a scare in the dying seconds when Haiti’s Kervens Belfort somehow headed wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.

At the Citrus Bowl, a drab 0-0 draw between Costa Rica and Paraguay in Group A.

The match kicked off in sweltering late afternoon temperatures of around 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius) and the energy-sapping conditions contributed to a lacklustre spectacle.