On This Day -16th July
Brazil fans’ nineteen year wait for a trophy was finally ended on this day back in 1989 as they defeated Uruguay 1-0 in the final of the Copa America.
The game was a repeat of the 1950 World Cup Final that was famously won by the Uruguayans in Brazil exactly 39 years previously. Revenge for the Brailians added a bit of extra spice to the game played at the Maracana, the same stadium where Uruguay had won back in the 1950 final.
The Copa America is slightly different to how other tournaments are organised. The first round of the tournament is made up of two groups of five competing nations and everyone plays each other once.
The top two sides from each group then progress to the final round. Both Brazil and Uruguay had finished second in their respective groups, although Brazil remained unbeaten having won two and drawn two of their four games. Uruguay had won two and lost two of their First Round matches.
In the Second Round, both sides beat Argentina 3-0 and Paraguay 2-0, effectively meaning that the Brazil vs Uruguay game was a winner takes all showdown.
Argentina and Paraguay had played out a goalless draw earlier in the day at the Maracana but no one cared about that!
An incredible 148,068 fans crammed into the Brazilian national stadium and the home fans had to wait until the 49th minute until Romario broke the deadlock.
Brazil broke down the right and a cross came in at a perfect height for Romario who was stood at the near post. He headed past the onrushing Uruguayan goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
The nineteen year wait was over and the Brazilian nation celebrated long into the night. Romario gained hero status and moved to Barcelona a few years later.
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