Thiago Silva celebrates opening the scoring in Brazil’s 2-1 win, gesturing towards suspended skipper Neymar, who watched on from the stands. PHOTO: AFP
SANTIAGO:
Brazil shrugged off the absence of suspended captain Neymar to reach the Copa America quarter-finals on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Venezuela.
Goals in each half from Paris Saint-Germain star Thiago Silva and Hoffenheim striker Roberto Firmino clinched a win which ensured Brazil qualified for the last eight on top of Group C.
Venezuela’s only goal came from Rayo Vallecano striker Nicolas Fedor in the 84th minute but Brazil managed to hang on, which meant that Colombia finished third and qualified at Venezuela’s expense.
Silva — who earlier celebrated finding the net with a dedication to Neymar — praised Brazil’s team effort. “The best thing today is we had a very cohesive team,” he said. “Football is played this way — as a team. If you are an individual player you can lose focus on the collective. Neymar is missed, he won’t play any more in this Copa America.”
Brazil will now face Group B runners-up Paraguay in the quarter-finals on Saturday, and the PSG centre-back says it will not be easy for the Selecao. “It’s going to be a tough match,” said Silva of the 2011 finalists, who knocked Brazil out at the same stage four years ago. “Any team here is hard. Paraguay got to the last Copa America final and got there on merit, beating us along the way. Beating them on Saturday will have a special meaning.”
With Colombia being held to a 0-0 draw in the earlier Group C game, Brazil headed into the match knowing that a point would be good enough.
However, any suggestions that the five-time world champions would give Venezuela an easy ride was snuffed out in the opening minutes as they seized control of the contest, breaking the deadlock in after only nine minutes.
Robinho flighted a corner from the right and Silva was on hand to sidefoot a sweetly struck volley past goalkeeper Alain Baroja, who failed to react in time as the ball flew into the roof of the net.
Silva celebrated by gesturing support to the watching Neymar, signalling the suspended striker’s shirt number.
Brazil then got their second in the 52nd minute. Willian skipped away from Rosales with ease down the left flank before crossing to Firmino, who sidefooted home from close range for 2-0.
Venezuela ensured a tense finale with Fedor’s late goal. Juan Arango’s free-kick was tipped onto the post by Jefferson but Fedor was on hand to head in the rebound. However, they were unable to find the equaliser that would have seen them go through at Colombia’s expense.
Colombia, who reached the last eight as one of the two best third-placed teams, now face Argentina in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Chile face Uruguay on Wednesday while Bolivia will play Peru.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2015.
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