Brazil won 3-0 against Venezuela in Brasilia on Sunday to begin their Copa America campaign on home soil in solid fashion. Marquinhos, Neymar, and Gabriel Barbosa scored the goals to get the hosts off to a great start.
The Selecao took advantage of one of six first-half corner kicks to score in the 23rd minute. Neymar’s pass bounced around the area before landing on Marquinhos’ thigh. With goalkeeper Joel Graterol of Venezuela wobbling in the wrong direction, the PSG centre-back was able to roll the ball into the net.
Two minutes later, Richarlison buried the ball in the back of the net, giving Brazil a two-goal lead, only to be called offside and the goal reversed.
Neymar dribbled his way into a good scoring opportunity on the half-hour mark, but his effort was wide of the mark.
In the second half, Brazil continued to waste chances. Seven minutes after the break, Gabriel Jesus sent a low cross across the box, finding Neymar unmarked at the far post, but the in-form PSG star couldn’t make contact with his sliding effort.
After Yohan Cumana pulled down Danilo on the edge of the 18-yard box, Neymar finally got his goal and scored from the penalty spot in the 64th minute, sending Graterol the wrong way and gently slipping the ball into the bottom right corner.
In the 89th minute, Flamengo star Gabriel Barbosa (Gabigol) came off the bench to make it three after chesting home a Neymar cross, putting the game out of reach.
Brazil’s next match will be on Thursday, when they face Peru. Venezuela will face Colombia earlier that day.
