Fans in Rio watch Argentina win Copa America final

(11 Jul 2021) Two long droughts ended on Saturday at the Copa America final: Argentina won its first major title since 1993 after a 1-0 win against Brazil. And Lionel Messi finally lifted his first major trophy for the national team, filling in one of the biggest gaps in his decorated career. A few hundred meters from the stadium, Brazilian fans gathered at bars to watch the final. The crowd was noticeably bigger than the games before. Argentina's winning goal at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro came in the 22nd minute after Rodrigo de Paul made a long pass to Ángel di Maria. The 33-year-old veteran striker counted on some sloppy defending from left-back Renan Lodi to take control and lob it past goalkeeper Ederson. Brazil score in the 7th minute of the second half with Richarlison, but was deemed offside by the referee. The hosts tried relentlessly throughout the last minutes of the game, but with no luck, leaving fans disappointed. "I think it was bad luck. Brazil played hard. It happens, that's football. It's not always what we expect to happen. Unfortunately it was better for Argentina. But the team played hard, Neymar played, everyone played well," said Noa Rocha. The South American trophy is a relief for Argentina, which won its last major title when Messi was only six years old. Saturday's victory in Rio gave the team its 15th Copa America title, this time unbeaten, equaling Uruguay's total. While fireworks were going off during Argentina's, a group of Argentinians cheered at the bar right next to the stadium. "I think it was well deserved to be champions. If it was fair, who's better, who's worse, I don't know. Today, Brazil and Argentine, it was well deserved. It's been years without a title so I think it was well deserved", said Lucas Vargas, who's Argentinian and lives in Rio de Janeiro. Messi, who has several titles with Barcelona, had reached the final of Copa America three times and lost all of them in 2007, 2015 and 2016. Now, he will have good memories at the Maracana, where Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany Brazil has won the South American title nine times. Brazil became last-minute hosts of Copa America two weeks before kick off after original organizers Colombia and Argentina withdrew. Many players protested against the tournament taking place as the COVID-19 pandemic causes thousands of deaths a day in South America, even more so in Brazil where 532,000 have died. Officials allowed a few thousand fans into the Maracana for the decider, the only match in the tournament to have spectators. There was very little social distancing in celebrations, and some fans removed their masks. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...