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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Hassan Rashed

Copa America hosts Brazil frustrated by VAR in 0-0 draw with Venezuela

Copa America hosts Brazil endured a frustrating evening as they had three goals disallowed in their 0-0 draw with Venezuela on Tuesday.

Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho all found the net in the Group A clash, only to see their efforts ruled out.

Tite's side struggled to create a clear opening for most of the first half, but thought they had made a breakthrough in the 38th minute when Firmino collected Dani Alves' cross before putting the ball in the net on the swivel.

However, the celebrations were short-lived as the referee ruled that that the Liverpool striker had committed a foul in the process.

The hosts thought they had taken the lead again on the hour mark when substitute Gabriel Jesus put the ball past Venezuela goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez, only for the video assistant referee (VAR) to rule that Firmino was offside in the build-up.

Roberto Firmino saw an first half goal disallowed (REUTERS/Edgard Garrido)

VAR intervened once again when Coutinho, who scored a brace in the 3-0 win over Bolivia, looked to have a finally found a winner with just minutes remaining in the game.

Brazil came into the match knowing that a win would secure a place in the knockout round of the competition and made a bright start but weren't able to take their chances.

Firmino and David Neres both failed to find the target before Everton forward Richarlison forced a smart stop from Farinez in the 16th minute.

Venezuela soon worked their way back into the contest and almost took the lead two minutes later through Salomon Rondon, but the striker wasn't able to direct his header on target.

Brazil weren't able to find an winner (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

The hosts continued to control possession in the second half but once again struggled to create many clear opportunities, with the exception of the two chalked-off strikes.

The introduction of Jesus, who replaced Richarlison at half-time, did bring some much-needed energy and he curled wide 11 minutes after the restart.

However, clear chances were still rare and VAR's interventions ensured that the game ended goalless, prompting boos from the home crowd.

"Venezuela were very defensive," defender Thiago Silva said after the final whistle.

"We were sometimes too hasty in trying to make a quick final pass and that led us to lose a bit of confidence.

Paolo Guerrero scores for Peru (PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images)

"But when you don't score goals it looks like everything is wrong.

"In the second half they practically never got out their own area. We didn't win because of small details."

Brazil will enter their final group match, against second-placed Peru, top of Group A with four points and knowing that they will need just a point to secure passage.

Peru come into that match in the same situation after they beat bottom side Bolivia 3-1 in the day's earlier game.

Paolo Guerrero cancelled out Marcelo Martins Moreno's penalty on the stroke of half time, before Jefferson Farfan and Edison Flores struck in the second half to secure all three points for Peru.

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