Brazil and Venezuela played out a 1-1 draw in a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier on Friday, November 15, in Maturín. Despite Raphinha’s sensational free-kick, Brazil was left frustrated by Vinícius Jr.‘s missed penalty and Telasco Segovia’s equalizer for the hosts.
Brazil dominated from the start but struggled to convert their chances. In the 9th minute, Vinícius Jr. failed to capitalize on a one-on-one opportunity, and Raphinha’s follow-up shot flew over the bar. Later, Vinícius hit the post, and Gerson’s powerful strike was denied by Venezuelan goalkeeper Rafael Romo.
The breakthrough came in the 43rd minute when Raphinha curled a brilliant free-kick into the top corner. However, Venezuela leveled shortly after halftime with Segovia’s bullet strike, which left Ederson helpless.
The turning point came in the 59th minute when Vinícius won a penalty after a foul inside the box. However, his spot-kick was saved, and he failed to score from the rebound, leaving Brazil frustrated.
In the dying minutes, chaos erupted as water sprinklers unexpectedly turned on, briefly halting play. Despite added time, Brazil couldn’t find a winner. They now sit third in the standings with 17 points, while Venezuela climbs to seventh with 12 points.
