The 2013 IBSA Copa América in blind football (B1 category for players who are completely blind) has kicked off in Santa Fe, Argentina, with a record eight nations taking part – hosts Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Uruguay and Colombia.
 
Following the draw last Friday evening, play began on Saturday with the opening fixture between Paraguay and Mexico. All the teams play each other in a round-robin system and the top two teams qualify for the final on Saturday September 28th.
 
Brazil will be looking to add another cup to their trophy cabinet and defend the Copa América they won in 2009, when they defeated arch rivals Argentina by two goals to nil in the final. Paraguay finished third in 2009, beating Colombia 2-0 in the play-off match.  
 
The 2013 IBSA Copa América is being hosted by the Argentinean Blind Sports Federation (FADeC – Federación Argentina de Deportes para Ciegos).
 
Match day one – Saturday September 21st

Paraguay 1 (Jorge Villalba) – Mexico 0
Colombia 3 (Juan Pablo Parra [3]) – Peru 0
Brazil 5 (Raimundo Nonato [2], Ricardinho, Jeferson, Gabriel) – Uruguay 0
Argentina 5 (Froilán Padilla[2], David Peralta [2], Silvio Velo) – Chile 0
 
The second day’s play began yesterday with another victory for Paraguay – this time an emphatic six nil win over Peru.
 
Match day two – Sunday September 22nd

Paraguay 6 (Jorge Villalba [2], Ricardo Villamayo [2], Hugo Ramírez, José Martti [o.g.]) – Peru 0
Colombia 3 (Juan Pablo Parra [2], John Hernández) – Mexico 2 (Rubicel de la Cruz Torres, José Ávalos Martínez)
Brazil 9 (Jeferson [4], Ricardinho [3], Raimundo Nonato [2]) – Chile 0
Argrntina 4 (Silvio Velo [2], Froilán Padilla, Claudio Monzón) – Uruguay 0
 
League standings after two games

Brazil 6, +14
Argentina 6, +9
Paraguay 6, +7
Colombia 6, +4
Mexico 0, -2
Peru 0, -9
Uruguay 0, -9
Chile 0, -14

Top goalscorers

Juan Pablo Parra (Colombia) 5
Jeferson (Brazil) 5
Raimundo Nonato (Brazil) 4
Froilán Padilla (Argentina) 3
Silvio Velo (Argentina) 3
Jorge Villalba (Paraguay) 3
David Peralta (Argentina) 2
Ricardo Villamayor (Paraguay) 2

Today’s fixtures (all times local)

09:30 Colombia vs Uruguay
11:30 Paraguay vs Chile
15:30 Brazil vs Peru
17:30 Argentina vs Mexico