2 CORDOBA, Argentina — Defending champion Brazil and its Group B rivals breathed life into the Copa America in two six-goal thrillers as it qualified for the quarterfinals with Venezuela and Paraguay Wednesday. Brazil won the group on goal difference from Venezuela, former whipping boys of South American soccer, with a 4-2 victory over Ecuador and will meet Paraguay in La Plata Sunday. Much-improved Venezuela, 1-0 up after five minutes but 3-1 down going into the 90th, struck twice for a 3-3 draw with Paraguay in Salta that put it in a last-eight meeting with Group A winner Chile in Mendoza. Peru, with Paraguay one of the two best third-placed teams in the 12-nation competition, heads to Cordoba to meet Group A winner Colombia in Saturday's quarterfinals, while host Argentina meets old rival Uruguay in Santa Fe. After a dearth of goals marred opening matches, Lionel Messi-led Argentina may have sparked the tournament into life with its 3-0 victory over Costa Rica Monday, but Brazil's display served notice the champion was beginning to gel under coach Mano Menezes. Young strikers Alexandre Pato and Neymar scored two goals apiece for Brazil, winner of four of the last five tournaments, while eliminated Ecuador contributed two fine equalisers from big forward Felipe Caicedo. Typical of the traditional Brazilian virtues Menezes has sought to revive was its second goal facilitated by playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso, who took a ball with his back to the net, turned and slotted it through for Neymar to shoot into the top corner. Paraguay was guilty of failing to defend the two-goal lead it got four minutes from time when midfielder Cristian Riveros sent a glancing header inside the near post from a free kick from the right. Striker Nicolas Fedor pulled one back in the final minute and three minutes into added time Grenddy Perozo equalized with a diving header at a corner. Goalkeeper Renny Vega played a key part when he came up into the box for the last-ditch corner and his header into the middle was met by Perozo.
