Brazil upset by Paraguay on penalties in Copa America quarterfinals

Paraguay’s penalty kicks were taken in the same manner they mounted their second-half charge – with power, desire and ultimately success.

Mighty Brazil is out. Underdog Paraguay is still in it.

Paraguay tied the game in the second half and beat Brazil 4-3 on penalties on Saturday in Concepcion, Chile, to advance to the Copa America semifinals.

This marks the second straight edition of the tournament in which Brazil has failed to reach the semifinals, and just like in 2011, it was knocked out by Paraguay on penalties. Questions will be asked about the difference Neymar could have made (his tournament ended early due to suspension), but even his individual brilliance might not have disrupted Paraguay’s determination.

While Brazil’s Everton Ribeiro and Douglas Costa let their nerves get the best of them in the shootout, every Paraguayan penalty-taker opted for power over placement, with Derlis Gonzalez scoring the game-winner on a high, hard shot to the right side:

Gonzalez also scored the equalizer on a penalty in the 72nd minute. Down 1-0, Paraguay looked much hungrier in the second half than the Brazilians, and the pressure finally led to a critically clumsy handball in the box by Thiago Silva:

For much of the first half, the Brazilians flexed their talent and creativity in ways they hadn’t for most of the tournament. The first goal came off a beautiful sequence of passing all over the offensive third, with Robinho providing the final touch:

But the Brazilians will have nothing to show for their second straight major international tournament. Since being hired for his second stint as Brazil's manager after the 2014 World Cup, Dunga has done little to strengthen the defense, and the attack still relies heavily on Neymar’s creativity. Dunga will have to do more than apologize for stupid comments to earn the trust of the fans, who largely disapproved of his hire in the first place.

Paraguay, meanwhile, will face Argentina in the semifinals on Tuesday, searching for its second consecutive berth in the Copa America final. The two teams drew 2-2 in their opening match on June 13.