Brazil reached the last four of the Copa America on Thursday with a 4-3 penalty shootout win over Paraguay after its compelling quarterfinal here ended scoreless.
Gabriel Jesus got the winning kick for Brazil after Gustavo Gomez and Derlis Gonzalez missed for the visitor. Roberto Firmino pulled his spot kick wide for the host.
Familiar technique
Jesus had missed a penalty against Peru in its last group game and said he went back to his tried and tested technique on Thursday.
“In the last game I didnt look at the keeper and I hit it hard straight away and the goalie made a good save,” he added.
“Today I did it my usual way, I looked calmly at the keeper and I could see him moving to the left and I side-footed it the other way.”
After a foul strewn and unexciting first half, Brazil took control when Fabian Balbuena was sent off in the 58th minute for fouling Firmino as he bore down on goal.
The referee gave a penalty but changed it to a free kick on the edge of the area after consulting the video assistant referee (VAR).
The sending off then saw the home side lay siege to the Paraguayan goal but without joy, Everton seeing a shot deflected over the bar, Gabriel Jesus pulling a gilt-edged chance wide, and Willian hitting the post in the last minute.
The result : Brazil 0 drew with Paraguay 0 (Brazil won 4-3 on penalties) .
