1919 South American Championship play-off

1919 South American Championship play-off

Estádio das Laranjeiras, venue of the match
Event	1919 South American Championship
Brazil Uruguay 1 0
Date	May 29, 1919
Venue	Estádio das Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro
Referee	Juan P. Barbera (Argentina)

The 1919 South American Championship play-off was a match held to determine the winner of the 1919 South American Championship, the third edition of this continental championship, as Brazil and Uruguay were tied for the first place after the regular competition. The match took place on May 29, 1919, at Estádio das Laranjeiras in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil won 1–0 after two extra time periods of two 30-minute halves each. This meant the match lasted 150 minutes, the longest in the tournament's history, while Brazil won its first continental title.

Background

Main article: 1919 South American Championship

Brazil		Round	Uruguay
Opponent	Result	Group stage	Opponent	Result
Chile	6–0	Match 1	Argentina	3–2
Argentina	3–1	Match 2	Chile	2–0
Uruguay	2–2	Match 3	Brazil	2–2
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Brazil 3 2 1 0 11 3 +8 5 Uruguay 3 2 1 0 7 4 +3 5 Argentina 3 1 0 2 7 7 0 2 Chile 3 0 0 3 1 12 −11 0

Notes

• Brazil and Uruguay finished tied on points so a playoff match had to be played to decide a champion.

Overview

The tournament system consisted of a single round-robin tournament, where the team with most points was crowned champion: however, Brazil and Uruguay finished tied on points, meaning a play-off was required.

It was also the first time that a non-CONMEBOL referee (Robert L. Todd of England) was appointed to a CONMEBOL match.

After the match finished 0–0, both captains and Todd agreed to play an extra time period of two 15-minute halves. When 120 minutes expired with the score still tied 0-0, both captains and Todd agreed to play a second extra time period of two 15-minute halves, meaning the final lasted 150 minutes.

This was the longest football match ever in Copa América history, while Arthur Friedenreich scored the goal that allowed Brazil to win its first international title in the 122nd minute, the latest goal in Copa América history; under current rules, both records will stand indefinitely.

Match details

May 29, 1919

Brazil	1–0 (a.e.t.)	Uruguay
Friedenreich 122'

Estádio das Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro

Referee: Juan Pedro Barbera (Argentina)

Brazil

Uruguay

GK		Marcos
RB		Pindaro
LB		Bianco
RH		Sérgio
CH		Fortes
LH		Amílcar
OR		Millon
IR		Neco
CF		Friedenreich
IL		Heitor Dominguez
OL		Arnaldo
Manager:
Haroldo

GK		Cayetano Saporiti
RB		Manuel Varela
LB		Alfredo Foglino
RH		Rogelio Naguil
CH		Alfredo Zibechi
LH		José Vanzzino
OR		José Pérez
IR		Héctor Scarone
CF		Ángel Romano
IL		Isabelino Gradín
OL		Rodolfo Marán
Manager:
Severino Castillo

Aftermath

Arthur Friedenreich scored the goal for Brazil, being also the topscorer of the tournament with 4 goals

Friedenreich's goal had a huge impact in Brazil due to the fact that him was the first black men to have played football in that country. He was also the first black to be called for the national team. Although only better-off sectors in Brazilian society could play football by then, the Federation allowed Friedenreich to play due to his father was a German-native, who had played in SC Germânia, a Paulist club established by German immigrants.

Friedenreich was not only the first black men to play football in Brazil, he is considered the first black superstar of the sport, with more than 1,200 goals credited to him within 25 years of career.

After this victory, racism in Brazilian football started to drop, with several clubs, including black people in their squads and even the national team. The championship also contributed to increase the popularity of the sport in the country.

Nevertheless, President of Brazil, Epitácio Pessoa, banned black players from the national team so Friedenreich could not attend the 1920 and 1921 editions in Chile and Argentina respectively. After the failures in those tournaments and popular pressure, Pessoa had to lift the ban and Friedenreich (considered the best Brazilian player) could return to the team. Brazil could win its second South American title in 1922 although Friedenreich can only play two matches before being injured.