INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Brazil drew 0-0 with Costa Rica on Monday night, with the international powerhouse failing to break through offensively in their Copa América opener.
Although Brazil controlled the game and outscored Costa Rica 18-2, the Seleção was held scoreless by a defense led by goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira, who made three saves and recorded his fourth consecutive game without conceding a goal.
Brazil also had an apparent Marquinhos goal disallowed in the first half after a lengthy VAR check. The team known for decades of sublime offensive play never came close to a score – and never caught a break from several questionable officiating decisions – in front of a spirited crowd of 67,158 dominated by their yellow-clad fans at SoFi Stadium.
The result left Colombia at the top of Group D after their 2-1 victory over Paraguay. Brazil have won the Copa América nine times, but their current transition squad, led by Real Madrid stars Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, is off to a dismal start.
The draw was a monumental achievement for Costa Rica, the short-handed CONCACAF team with the youngest squad in the tournament but with a reputation for resilience and robust defense. Los Ticos had lost nine consecutive meetings with Brazil.
Brazil controlled from the start with 75% possession in the first half.
Vinícius was brought down in the area in the 22nd minute by a strong shot from Haxzel Quirós, but he did not whistle.
In the 30th minute, Rodrygo headed Raphinha’s free kick low to Marquinhos, who hit the second post. A 3½-minute VAR review followed, and Mexican referee César Ramos ultimately agreed with the assistant’s decision to charge him with offside by a tiny margin.
In the 39th minute, a shot from Lucas Paquetá appeared to hit Juan Pablo Vargas’ hand in the box, but Ramos did not connect.
Paquetá shot at the post in the 63rd minute. Costa Rica survived when Haxzel Quirós almost headed the ball into his own goal before Sequeira smothered it.
Costa Rica survived a few more moments of chaos from the 86th minute onwards, with Rodrygo failing to capitalize on two chances and not receiving a foul against Jeyland Mitchell in the box.
Bruno Guimarães then looked at the net in the first minute of stoppage time, but pushed wide.
The Brazilian team is in a period of transition – especially without Neymar, who has not played since tearing his knee ligament in a match for the Brazilian team last October. Neymar spoke to the team on Sunday before watching the match at SoFi Stadium, where he received huge applause in the second half when his worried face appeared on the scoreboard.
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