1953 South American Championship play-off explained

1953 South American Championship play-off
Event:1953 South American Championship
Team1:Paraguay
Team1score:3
Team2:Brazil
Team2score:2
Date:April 1, 1953
City:Lima
Referee:Charles Dean (England)
Attendance:35,000

The 1953 South American Championship play-off was a match held to determine the winner of the 1953 South American Championship, as Paraguay and Brazil were tied for the first place after the regular competition. The match took place on April 1, 1953, at Estadio Nacional in Lima, Peru.

Paraguay won the match 3–2, winning its first continental title.[1]

Overview

Some journalists stated that Paraguay's best moments in football were during those years.[2] In fact, the Paraguayan side achieved some notable results such as the 5–1 win over Argentina (then South American champion) in July 1945.

Other good performances by the Paraguayan team had been the 3rd place in 1946 –with goalkeeper Sinforiano García (considered one of the greatest in Paraguayan football) being the most notable player–, the 2nd place in 1947 and the win over Brazil on group stage in 1949 (although the host country would thrash Paraguay 7–0 in the play-off).[3]

After former player Manuel Fleitas Solich was appointed coach, Paraguay started a hard training routine with the purpose of being in the best shape for the 1953 South American tournament. Results were highly satisfactory so Paraguay were crowned champion unbeaten (except for a walkover), beating Brazil in the play-off and taking revenge after losing to them in the 1949 play-off.[3]

Background

ParaguayRoundBrazil
OpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult
3–0Match 18–1
0–0Match 22–0
2–2Match 31–0
2–2Match 40–1
2–1Match 53–2
2–1Match 61–2
Final standings
width=165 Teamwidth=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20 width=20
align=left 6402156+98
align=left 6321116+58
align=left 6312156+97
align=left 6312101007
align=left 631246−27
align=left 6114615−93
align=left 6024113−122
Note:Brazil and Paraguay finished tied on points so a playoff match had to be played to decide the champion.

Match details

GKAdolfo Riquelme
RB
LBMelanio Olmedo
RH
CHVictoriano Leguizamón
LH
OR
IR
CF
IL
OL
Substitutions:
MF
MF
MF
Manager:
Manuel Fleitas Solich
GKCastilho
RBDjalma Santos
CBHaroldo
LB
RHBauer
LHBrandãozinho
OR
IRJulinho
CFBaltazar
IL
OLCláudio
Substitutions:
FW
FW
Manager:
Zezé Moreira

Notes and References

  1. https://www.rsssf.org/tables/53safull.html South American Championship 1953
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20190402123837/http://www.purodeporte.com.py/index.php/futbol/5090-paraguay-campeon-del-sudamericano-de-1953 Paraguay campeón del Sudamericano de 1953
  3. http://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/deportes/la-semana-santa-feliz-de-1953-240181.html La Semana Santa feliz de 1953