Brazil beat Ecuador to reach Copa quarters

C?RDOBA, Argentina : Brazilian forward Neymar (R) is marked by Ecuadorean midfielder Michael Arroyo during a 2011 Copa America Group B first round football match held at the Mario Kempes stadium here Wednesday. ? AFP PhotoCORDOBA, Argentina, July 14 (AP): Alexandre Pato and Neymar scored two goals each as defending champion Brazil defeated Ecuador 4-2 to reach the Copa America quarterfinals Wednesday.

Brazil finished first in Group B and will play Paraguay in the next round. Ecuador was eliminated.

Pato scored with a header in the 28th minute and a close-range shot in the 60th, while Neymar netted from inside the area in the 48th and 76th.

Striker Felipe Caicedo scored for Ecuador in the 37th and 58th.

Brazil was coming off draws against Venezuela and Paraguay and needed at least a draw to keep alive its hopes for a third straight title in the South American championship.

View the original article here