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Copa America: Roberto Firmino denied signature assist after spellbinding through pass

By: Author Surjit Patowary

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Copa America: Roberto Firmino denied signature assist after spellbinding through pass

Roberto Firmino was at his creative best as he produced a mesmeric backheel through pass in Brazil’s recent Copa America encounter with Colombia.

The Liverpool forward is reputed for his creative ability, and he made sure to enhance that reputation with his performance for Brazil against Colombia in the 2021 Copa America – a performance capped off by an incredible pass.

Fresh off two wins in their opening games in the tournament, Brazil went behind early on against Colombia courtesy of a Luis Diaz strike. Firmino came on to replace Everton Ribeiro as a halftime substitution and gave the Selecao the extra attacking impetus that they needed to break the Colombia defence down.

Firmino’s creative influence shone through particularly with a brilliant backheel pass threaded through the Colombian defence which almost got them the breakthrough.

It was Neymar who started the move for Brazil in the 66th minute with an incisive pass to Richarlison. When passed the ball right outside the Colombian penalty area by Richarlison, Firmino showed the incredible vision to spot the unmarked run that Neymar was making into the box.

Firmino displayed his signature no-look style and calmly threaded the ball through Davinson Sanchez’s legs with his heel to find Neymar one on one with David Ospina in goal.

Neymar rounded the Colombian goalkeeper but failed to squeeze the ball between the two posts, as the woodwork denied Neymar’s off-balance strike from going in – as well as Firmino from a fabulous signature assist.

But 12 minutes later, it was Firmino himself who broke the deadlock for Brazil as he made it 1-1 with 12 minutes to go.

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Casemiro’s strike in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time secured the points for Brazil in a 2-1 win, and it was Firmino whose creative influence helped in the Brazilian second-half renaissance to make it three wins from three games.