Brazil missed the chance to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the 2019 Copa America with a game to spare as they were held to a goalless draw by Venezuela in their second Group A match on Tuesday night.

The Selecao opened the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Bolivia on Friday night and would have been looking for another three points to ease their way into the last eight.

Brazil had the ball in the back of the Venezuelan net on three separate occasions during the 90 minutes, but all three were chalked off, including second-half efforts from Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho.

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Arthur for Fernandinho was the only Brazilian change from the Bolivia clash and the Barcelona midfielder saw plenty of the ball in the early stages as the tournament hosts started well.

Roberto Firmino headed a Dani Alves delivery over the crossbar in the 11th minute. Venezuela, though, were causing problems when they had the opportunity to break forward.

Brazil, as expected, were the overwhelming favourites ahead of kickoff. Venezuela could call upon a number of recognisable names, though, with Espanyol's Roberto Rosales, Torino's Tomas Rincon and West Bromwich Albion's Salomon Rondon all featuring in their first XI.

La Vinotinto goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez is said to have attracted attention from Barcelona, meanwhile, and winger Jefferson Savarino, who ultimately did not feature, was linked with both Newcastle United and West Ham United on Monday night.

The first serious chance of the match arrived for David Neres in the 15th minute, but the Ajax attacker could only strike wide of Farinez's post from a dangerous position. Richarlison then brought a smart save from the Venezuelan goalkeeper moments later during a strong spell of pressure.

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Venezuela had a brilliant chance of their own in the 19th minute when Rondon climbed highest inside the Brazil box to meet a cross from Ronald Hernandez, but the centre-forward's effort dropped just wide of Alisson Becker's post.

A lot of Brazil's threat was coming from the wide positions as Filipe Luis and Alves continued to break forward, although Farinez was fairly comfortable between the sticks as the first period approached its latter stages.

Tite's team did have the ball in the back of the net in the 38th minute, but Firmino's effort was chalked off following a foul from the Liverpool striker on Mikel Villanueva.

The Selecao continued to force the issue late in the first period, but there was no breakthrough at the end of another frustrating first 45 minutes of Copa America football for the host nation.

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Brazil made a half-time change with Gabriel Jesus taking the place of Richarlison, who found it difficult to make his mark in the opening 45 minutes. It was a case of same again for Venezuela, though, which was not a surprise considering how they performed in the first half of action.

Tite's side scored in the 50th minute of their opening match against Bolivia on Friday night - there was to be no early breakthrough in the second period this time, though, as Venezuela continued to hold firm.

Firmino struck wide of the Venezuelan post in the 54th minute, before the host nation made their second change of the match - Fernandinho replacing Casemiro, who had been booked, in the middle of the park.

The breakthrough looked to have come soon after as Gabriel Jesus collected a clever pass from Firmino before finding the back of the net. The goal was chalked off for offside following a VAR check, however, which further added to the frustration inside the stadium.

Rondon was doing his best to ease the pressure on his defence as the clock ticked on, but Brazil were very much in control of the contest as the match headed for its final 25 minutes.

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Arthur fizzed one just over the Venezuelan crossbar in the 69th minute, before Tite introduced his third substitute with Everton entering the field in place of the disappointing Neres.

Venuezuela's second substitute of the night, Arquimedes Figuera, fired wide of the post from distance in the 77th minute as the score remained level in the Group A contest.

Brazil again had the ball in the back of the net in the 87th minute through Coutinho, but the Barcelona midfielder also saw his effort chalked off for what appeared to be a handball from Firmino.

The match headed into seven minutes of additional time, which ultimately became nine due to a late injury for Hernandez. Brazil almost won it at the death when Fernandinho climbed highest to meet a corner, but the Manchester City midfielder saw his header drop wide as the points were shared at the Estadio Fonte Nova.

The result has left Brazil top of the section on four points, just ahead of second-placed Peru on goal difference. Venezuela, meanwhile, occupy third, two points ahead of Bolivia before the final set of group games on Saturday.

BRAZIL (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alves, Marquinhos, Silva, Luis; Arthur, Casemiro (Fernandino 57'); Richarlison (Gabriel Jesus 46'), Coutinho, Neres (Everton 72'); Firmino

VENEZUELA (4-1-4-1): Farinez; Rosales, Osorio, Villanueva, Hernandez; Moreno; Machis (Figuera 76'), Herrera (Soteldo 66'), Rincon, Murillo; Rondon (Martinez 86')

Written by
Matt Law