Brazil opened the 2021 Copa America with a 3-0 win over a depleted Venezuela on Sunday, dominating their inexperienced opponents from begin to end in a one-sided match.
Defender Marquinhos scored the opening objective halfway by the primary half when he was lucky to see his backheel squirm by a defender’s legs and into the web.
Neymar netted his 67th worldwide objective from the penalty spot 19 minutes into the second half after Danilo was felled within the field.
Substitute Gabriel Barbosa made it three with two minutes remaining when he chested residence a cross from Neymar after the tireless Paris St Germain participant had rounded the keeper.
The Copa America was moved to Brazil with simply two weeks discover after co-hosts Colombia had been eliminated because of a wave of civil unrest and Argentina pulled out due to a COVID-19 surge there.However, gamers or officers from three nations have examined optimistic for the brand new coronavirus, with Venezuela dropping eight gamers and calling up one other 15 on the eve of the opener.
The modifications meant Venezuela had two debutants in a line-up that included simply three of the gamers who started their World Cup qualifier with Uruguay final Tuesday.
Venezuela have by no means overwhelmed Brazil in a aggressive match however they weren’t overawed on a wet evening in Brasilia and so they had been spared extra blushes by a house aspect who, though they by no means regarded like dropping, had been often wasteful within the final third of the sector.
Richarlison particularly missed a collection of half and full probabilities earlier than making method for Gabriel Barbosa in 65 minutes.”We knew we had been going to return throughout a Venezuela that shut up store and make it tough for us to play,” Marquinhos stated. “However thanks be to God we had been in a position to rating within the first half and that helped us.”
“We all know how vital it’s to attain targets, particularly in a recreation like this. Right here the primary objective is so vital to open the sport up and pressure your opponent to play a bit extra.”
Brazil’s subsequent recreation is towards Peru on June 17, whereas Venezuela tackle Colombia the identical day. Ecuador, the fifth crew in Group B, face Colombia afterward Sunday.
