Venezuela vs Brazil. FIFA World Cup Conmebol Qualifying Tournament.
Estadio Metropolitano MeridaAttendance42,700.
Venezuela 0-2 Brazil: Willian and Gabriel Jesus score as Brazil go top
Wednesday 12 October 2016 07:28, UK
Brazil moved to the top of the pile in the 2018 World Cup South American qualifying group with a 2-0 win over Venezuela.
The Samba Boys made it four wins on the bounce thanks to a goal in either half from Gabriel Jesus and Willian which sees them leapfrog Uruguay at the summit.
Tite's men even survived a blackout as the game was suspended for 20 minutes in the second half following floodlight failure at the Estadio Metropolitano de Merida.
Coming into the game on the back of a 5-0 win over Bolivia, Brazil could not have wished for a better start as they were gifted an eighth-minute lead.
A suicidal piece of goalkeeping from Daniel Hernandez saw him pass the ball straight to Gabriel, who had no problem in lifting the ball over the red-faced keeper and into an empty net.
Trending
- Papers: Gravenberch set to stay at Liverpool amid Real Madrid links
- Nunez and Elliott strike as Liverpool battle past Southampton
- Gabriel Jesus is back! Hat-trick for Arsenal striker sinks Palace
- Man Utd latest: Rashford has not travelled for Carabao Cup tie - reports
- Transfer Centre LIVE! 'Saudi could offer Rashford way out of Man Utd'
- Italian job! Tonali brace inspires Newcastle past Brentford
- Perez leaves Red Bull seat as 2025 exit confirmed
- VOTE: Do Arsenal still need a striker in January after Jesus heroics?
- Football news: Mbappe scores as Real Madrid win Intercontinental Cup
- Vasseur: Convincing Hamilton to join Ferrari not difficult at all
Gabriel was denied a second midway through the first half when Roberto Rosales produced a superb interception while Renato Augusto, Paulinho and Philippe Coutinho all spurned decent chances to make Brazil's half-time cup of tea taste that bit sweeter.
Chelsea star Willian ensured they did give themselves a cushion, though, as he superbly finished at the back post eight minutes after the restart following a fine ball by Renato.
Venezuela, who are yet to win in the qualifying campaign, tried their best to mount a recovery and West Brom striker Salomon Rondon sent a header just wide while Alejandro Guerra fired another glaring chance wide.
The hosts' surge was disrupted when the floodlights went out, leading to a delay of 20 minutes, and they could not regain the ascendancy when the light returned as Brazil saw it out for another win, which sets them up for the mouthwatering visit of Argentina next month.
