Brazil opened the 2021 Copa America with a 3-0 success over a drained Venezuela on Sunday, ruling their unpracticed opponents beginning to end in an uneven match. Defender Marquinhos scored the opening goal halfway through the first half when he was lucky to see his backheel wriggle through a defender’s legs and into the net. Neymar netted his 67th global goal from the penalty spot 19 minutes into the second half after Danilo was felled in the box.
Substitute Gabriel Barbosa made it three with two minutes remaining when he chested home a cross from Neymar after the indefatigable Paris St Germain player had adjusted the keeper. The Copa America was moved to Brazil with only fourteen days notice after co-hosts Colombia were eliminated because of a rush of civil unrest and Argentina pulled out as a result of a COVID-19 flood there. By the by, players or officials from three nations have tried positive for the new Covid, with Venezuela losing eight players and calling up another 15 just before the opener.
The progressions implied Venezuela had two debutants in a line-up that included only three of the players who started their World Cup qualifier with Uruguay last Tuesday. Venezuela have never beaten Brazil in a serious match yet they were not overawed on a stormy night in Brasilia and they were saved more becomes flushed by a home side who, despite the fact that they never looked like losing, were every now and again inefficient in the last third of the field.
Richarlison specifically missed a progression of half and full possibilities prior to clearing a path for Gabriel Barbosa in 65 minutes.”We realized we planned to go over a Venezuela that shut up shop and make it hard for us to play,” Marquinhos said. “However, thanks be to God we had the option to score in the first half and that helped us.” “We realize that it is so imperative to score goals, particularly in a game like this. Here the first goal is so critical to open the game up and power your rival to play a smidgen more.” Brazil’s next game is against Peru on June 17, while Venezuela take on Colombia that very day. Ecuador, the fifth group in Group B, face Colombia later on Sunday.
