the start of their closed-door 2022 FIFA World Cup South American
qualifier football match against Venezuela at Morumbi Stadium in
Sao Paulo, Brazil, on November 13, 2020. NELSON ALMEIDA / POOL /
AFP
Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino scored the crucial
goal as Brazil laboured to a 1-0 win over a well organized but
limited Venezuela in their World Cup qualifier on
Friday.
Firmino broke the deadlock on 66 minutes in Sao Paulo, poaching
a goal after Venezuelan defender Darwin Machis’ attempt to clear an
Everton Ribeiro cross fell to him a few yards out.
Firmino’s 16th goal in 47 appearances for the Selecao was enough
to maintain their 100 per cent record in the 2022 World Cup
qualifiers.
Brazil have already beaten Bolivia (5-0) and Peru (4-2) and top
the South American qualifying table with Argentina second.
Venezuela, who lost their first two qualifiers, were set up to
contain and held the Brazilians scoreless at half time in the
deserted Morumbi stadium.
The hosts missed the injured Neymar’s creativity in midfield,
but even with an attack sporting Firmino, Gabriel Jesus and
Richarlison, they could find no way through the mass Venezuelan
defence in the first half.
Richarlison did have the ball in the net early on but the
Everton striker’s celebrations were cut short when Firmino was
adjudged to have been narrowly offside in the buildup.
the start of their closed-door 2022 FIFA World Cup South American
qualifier football match against Venezuela at Morumbi Stadium in
Sao Paulo, Brazil, on November 13, 2020. FERNANDO BIZERRA / POOL /
AFP
For all Brazil’s pressing, Wuilker Farinez had little enough to
do in the Venezuela goal, but the keeper made a flying save to beat
away a bouncing shot from Firmino just before the half-hour, the
Liverpool striker heading the resulting corner well wide.
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With 75 per cent possession but short of ideas in attack, most
of Brazil’s threat came from the left and it was from there they
worked their best chance on 32 minutes, Atletico Madrid’s Renan
Lodi whipping in a cross that Gabriel Jesus and then Richarlison,
at full stretch, failed to turn in to a gaping goal.
Venezuela’s only threat came from a break up the left wing by
Yeferson Soteldo, whose cross for Salomon Rondon was hacked away by
Marquinhos.
Rondon, formerly of West Bromwich Albion and now plying his
trade for Chinese Super Lague club Dalian Professional, otherwise
cut an isolated figure when not busy with defensive duties.
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, who hardly touched the ball
during the whole match, reacted quickly to scramble the ball away
when Rondon briefly threatened the Brazil goal at the death.
Venezuela’s Corinthians star Romulo Otero wasted Venezuela’s
only other real chance when he fired a 25-meter free kick over
Ederson’s bar in injury time.
A worried Brazilian coach Tite will have seen how sorely his
side missed Neymar’s invention.
The Paris Saint-Germain star, who suffered a thigh injury in a
Champions League match last month, is also set to miss Tuesday’s
match with Uruguay in Montevideo.
Venezuela host a resurgent Chile in Caracas on Tuesday.
Jose Peseiro’s side are likely to maintain their uncomfortable
record of being the only South American team never to qualify for a
World Cup.
AFP