For the second straight time in the Copa America at home, Brazil was sneered by its fans.
The hosts followed a dull success over Bolivia with a scoreless attract against Venezuela the Copa America on Tuesday, provoking another wave of boos from the home crowd.
This time, Brazil even suffered serenades of “ole” by the local fans when the Venezuelans contacted the ball close to the finish of the match.
“Obviously it doesn’t help when the fans are against us, chanting ‘ole’ for our opponent,” Brazil left-back Filipe Luis said. “In the end, that doesn’t help anybody. We need to keep fighting and keep giving our best to try to change things.”
Brazil played superior to anything it did in the opener against Bolivia, however it was not ready to get through the strong Venezuelan defense at the Arena Fonte Nova.
“It’s frustrating,” Filipe Luis said. “We did everything we could to try to win this match. We had many scoring chances, we controlled the game, but we couldn’t come away with the victory.”
Brazil had two goals turned around by video survey on account of offside calls, one by Gabriel Jesus from the get-go in the second half and another by Philippe Coutinho close to the finish of the match.
Notwithstanding the mishap, the hosts remained at the highest point of Group A with four, tied with Peru, which prior Tuesday vanquished Bolivia 3-1 in Rio de Janeiro. Venezuela, which opened with a 0-0 draw against Peru, has two points.
The group will be settled on Saturday with Brazil confronting Peru in Sao Paulo and Venezuela taking on Bolivia in Belo Horizonte. The main two teams in each gathering development to the following round, alongside the two best third-place finishers.
Brazil thought it had scored with substitute Gabriel Jesus not long after halftime, however the goal was refused after a survey demonstrated that Roberto Firmino, who made the go to the Manchester City striker, was offside when the ball avoided off a Venezuela defender. The Brazilians griped, arguing that it was a pass not a deflection by the defender.
“Welcome to the VAR, long live the VAR,” Venezuela coach Rafael Dudamel said. “No one gifted anything to us. Justice was made and you have to keep believing in those who do justice.”
Coutinho’s goal with around five minutes left in guideline was turned around in light of the fact that his short proximity shot redirected off Firmino, who was in an offside position before the net. The goal would have stood had the ball not contacted the Liverpool forward.
“We can’t complain about the VAR,” Brazil coach Tite said. “Justice was made.”
Firmino had a goal disallowed late in the first half for pulling a defender inside the area before he scored.
Brazil’s first goal in the 3-0 prevail upon Bolivia on Friday had originated from a punishment granted by video review.
It was Venezuela which had the best scoring open door in the primary half with a short proximity header by striker Salomon Rondon that missed simply wide.
Brazil almost got the champ in second-half stoppage time with a header by Fernandinho that about found the furthest corner.
Brazil hadn’t been held scoreless in a match at home since the 3-0 loss to the Netherlands in the third-place match in the 2014 World Cup.
Brazil is seeking a ninth Copa America title. It won the tournament all four previous times it hosted the event, the last time in 1989.
Venezuela’s best Copa finish was a fourth place in 2011.