1919 South American Championship

The 1919 South American Championship of Nations was the third continental championship for South American national football teams. It was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 11 to 29 May 1919.

1919 South American Championship of Nations
Poster
Tournament details
Host countryBrazil
Dates11–29 May
Teams4 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions Brazil (1st title)
Runners-up Uruguay
Third place Argentina
Fourth place Chile
Tournament statistics
Matches played7
Goals scored27 (3.86 per match)
Top scorer(s)Brazil Arthur Friedenreich
Brazil Neco
(4 goals each)
The Brazilian team that won its first championship.

The participating countries were Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay as the defending champion.

After finishing tied in the group standings on points, host Brazil beat Uruguay in the playoff match to win their first title.

The playoff was the longest match in the competition's history, and under current rules, will remain so indefinitely: with the score tied 0-0 after 90 minutes had expired, both captains and the referee 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 the referee agreed to play a second extra time period of two 15-minute halves; thus, the playoff match lasted 150 minutes.[1]

Format

There was no qualifying for the tournament. The participating countries were Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. All teams competed between each other in a single group. Two points were awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a defeat. If there was a tie of points at the top of the standings, a playoff match would be held to determine the champion.

Squads

For a complete list of participating squads see: 1919 South American Championship squads

Venues
Rio de Janeiro
Estádio das Laranjeiras
Capacity: 20,000

Final round

Each team played one match against each of the other teams. Two points were awarded for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Brazil 3210113+85
 Uruguay 321074+35
 Argentina 31027702
 Chile 3003112−110
Brazil 6–0 Chile
Friedenreich 19', 38', 76'
Neco 21', 83'
Haroldo 79'
Referee: Juan Pedro Barbera (Argentina)
Argentina 2–3 Uruguay
Izaguirre 34'
Varela 79' (o.g.)		 C. Scarone 19'
H. Scarone 23'
Gradín 85'
Referee: Robert Todd (England)
Uruguay 2–0 Chile
C. Scarone 31'
J. Pérez 43'
Referee: Adilton Ponteado (Brazil)
Brazil 3–1 Argentina
Héitor 22'
Amílcar 57'
Millón 77'		 Izaguirre 65'
Referee: Robert Todd (England)
Argentina 4–1 Chile
Clarcke 10', 23', 62'
Izaguirre 13'		 France 33'
Referee: Joaquim de Castro (Brazil)
Uruguay 2–2 Brazil
Gradín 13'
C. Scarone 17'		 Neco 29', 63'
Referee: Robert Todd (England)

Play-off
Main article: 1919 South American Championship Final
Brazil 1–0 (a.e.t.) Uruguay
Friedenreich 122'
Referee: Juan P. Barbera (Argentina)

Result
 1919 South American Championship champions 

Brazil
First title

Goal scorers
Arthur Friedenreich (left) and Neco, top scorers

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Own goals

Aftermath

The day after the final, Uruguayan goalkeeper Roberto Chery died in hospital in Río de Janeiro of a strangulated hernia; he had been injured after attempting to stop a goal during the match against Chile. As substitutions were not allowed at the time, Chery had to play the rest of the match while severely injured.[3]

Brazil and Uruguay had scheduled a friendly match ("Copa Rio Branco") for 19 June 1919, but following Chery's tragic death, the Uruguayan team declined to play. Argentina offered to replace the Uruguayan side, which the Brazilian Federation accepted, and the match was played as the "Copa Roberto Chery" to honor the late Uruguayan goalkeeper. Argentina entered the field wearing Uruguay's traditional light-blue jersey, while Brazil wore the jersey of Uruguayan club Peñarol.[4]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Campeonato Sudamericano de Selecciones 1919.
  1. La subyugante historia de la Copa América
  2. Oliver, Guy (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness publishing. p. 551. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.
  3. Una historia trágica en la Copa América on Prensa Libre, 13 June 2016
  4. La más hermosa página de fraternidad, El Gráfico
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