Brazil dumped OUT of the Copa America by minnows Peru after blatant handball goal condemns them to controversial 1-0 defeat

• Peru forward Raul Ruidiaz struck in the final 20 minutes but handled the ball to score winning goal
• Referee and assistant had long discussions over legitimacy of goal but decided to allow it to stand 
• Officials made the wrong call, eliminating Brazil from the Copa America and putting Dunga's future in doubt
• Ruidiaz claimed after the game that the ball struck his thigh rather than his hand and said goal was 'thanks to God' 
• Brazil national team coach Dunga had been criticised for overly conservative tactics before game

  

  Ruidiaz used his hand to tap the ball home from close range - piling misery on Dunga's side and sending them out of the competition
  
  

  
  

  

  Brazilian players surround the referee Andres Cunha as they suggest Peru's winning goal was a handball
  

  
  

  

  Ruidiaz claimed the ball hit his thigh rather than his hand and said the goal was 'thanks to God' rather than another hand of God

  
  

  
  

  

  The ball clearly hit Ruidiaz's hand but the Uruguayan officials and Paraguayan fourth official failed to spot the goal

  
  

Eventually he awarded the goal — implying that whoever he was speaking to was not watching a video replay—because if they had it would have been an easy decision to rule it out.

Peru’s victory saw them top Group B to set up a quarter-final clash with Colombia, while Ecuador go through second and Brazil finish a humiliating third.

Ruidiaz claimed his controversial goal against Brazil was legal because the ball hit him on the thigh, despite replays clearly showing he punched it into the net.

Speaking after the game, Ruidiaz said: 'It was a quick move and it hit me in the thigh. I don't understand why there was controversy, because it was a clean play,' he said.

Some have compared it to Diego Maradona's 'hand of god' goal and Ruidiaz did say Peru's victory was 'thanks to god', although he was not making specific reference to his goal.

Brazil's Dani Alves says the handball is not a get-out clause for his team's knockout.

'I believe it does not serve as an excuse. It is a fact that Brazil has achieved nothing in our last major competitions, and against that there are no arguments.

'I am very competitive, so going through this is unacceptable to me as a competitor.' 

The match had started well for the Selecao. Dunga defied his natural conservative instincts and opted for Lucas Lima to replace the suspended Casemiro.

The Santos attacking midfielder is sporting the No 10 for Brazil at this tournament and his selection meant that Renato Augusto was pushed back into a more defensive role, with Elias.

Many expected Dunga to opt for Walace as the Real Madrid man's stand-in but the coach showed he is reacting to demands for more creativity in the side. He also opted for Gabriel 'Gabigol' Barbosa up front, another Santos star, to add spark and flair which Jonas lacked in the previous two games.

It seemed to be working in the first half, with Philippe Coutinho and Willian on the wings working the Peru defenders extremely hard, drifting into space and probing for openings. 

The Liverpool man was in particularly fine fettle, all flicks and tricks, subtle touches and full-body turns, leaving Peru chasing thin air. But it did not manifest itself on the scoreboard. 

Filipe Luis had a strike saved early on, before Gabriel's low strike forced a brilliant stop from Pedro Gallese, down low to his right.

Brazil had a couple of early claims for penalties, both weak, but a strong one arrived in the 23rd minute, when Lucas Lima was taken out by Christian Ramos, with referee Andres Cunha ignoring his appeal.

That was the course of action the referee took just before half-time too, when he denied Peru a penalty after Renato Augusto clumsily tripped Edison Flores inside the area. 

The 25-year-old (right, pictured with Christian Cueva) celebrates at the Gillette Stadium despite knowing he should have been penalised

Brazil national team manager Dunga had been criticised for his conservative tactics ahead of Sunday night's match

Brazil's attacking players, including striker Gabriel Barbosa, could not break down a staunch Peru defence

Source: Daily Mail