Rio de Janeiro: A fantastic goal of Angel di Maria helped Argentina to beat Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final on Sunday and Lionel Messi’s Argentina secured the national team’s first title in 28 years and the superstar’s first major international trophy.
The winning goal came in the 22nd minute after Rodrigo de Paul made a long pass to Ángel di Maria and the veteran striker counted on some sloppy defending from left-back Renan Lodi to take control and lob it past goalkeeper Ederson.
Finally, the goal helped Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final at the Maracana and brought an end to Lionel Messi’s international title drought at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil kept pressing hard to find a goal and even forced Argentina to turn on a defensive mode but still wasn’t able to find the net.
It was only the third goal Brazil conceded in the tournament. Neymar tried hard with dribbles and passes, but the Selecao barely threatened Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
In the dying minutes of play, Brazil earned a corner with Neymar swinging a cross into the box, however, Thiago Silva glanced the header over the goal post. In the end, Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 to lift the coveted trophy.