Mano Manezes has ushered in a new era with no more leg-breaking defensive midfielders and more flair than you can shake a stick at. Sunday, they put their new squad and system to the test against Rondon’s Venezuela.
Copa America 2011, Brazil Vs. Venezuela: Underdogs Pull Off Shocking Draw
Brazil was utterly dominant in the first half and only Lady Luck kept Venezuela from going down multiple goals. Multiple times it looked as if the Brazilians had a clear crack at goal only to see the shot take a slight deflection and end up in the stands. Pato ripped a shot from 15 yards that had the goalkeeper just watching in awe, but the shot rattled the crossbar and bounced away harmlessly.
Later on it looked like Robinho had tallied, in alone on the keeper and sidefooting the ball seemingly for a goal, but Oswaldo Vizcarrondo came sliding in from out of nowhere to keep the ball out. Brazil appealed for a handball on Vizcarrondo, but replays showed the ball had struck the area where the chest meets the shoulder and the referee did not give it.
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