<p class="title">Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw against Venezuela in the Copa America on Tuesday as a late strike from Philippe Coutinho was disallowed after a controversial VAR decision.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Coutinho thought he had fired Brazil into the quarter-finals in the 87th minute when he bundled home a finish from Everton Soares' driving run down the left wing at Salvador's Arena Fonte Nova.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But for the second time in the match, Chilean referee Julio Bascunan ruled out the Brazilian goal after being alerted to an infringement by the video assistant referee.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The goal appeared to have been disallowed due to a touch by Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino, although it was not clear that Firmino had been offside as the ball grazed him on the way into the net.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Brazil left the field to boos but remain top of Group A with four points from two games, and one game to play.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Venezuela have two points from two games and will fancy their chances of advancing with their final game coming against Bolivia, who suffered their second straight defeat earlier Tuesday in a 3-1 loss to Peru.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Brazil, who had made hard work of beating Bolivia in their opener, once again struggled to find a creative spark against well-organized opponents.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Firmino was kept quiet by Venezuela's defense with Yordan Osorio and Mikel Villanueva neutralizing the Liverpool striker.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The tale of the first half lay in the statistics from the opening 45 minutes, with Brazil recording only one shot on target despite enjoying 75 percent possession.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In fact, the best chance of the half fell to Venezuela, when Salomon Rondon headed Yangel Herrera's cross just inches wide with Alisson beaten.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Firmino did get the ball in the Venezuela net in the 38th minute but the goal was disallowed after Bascunan ruled Villanueva had been fouled in the build-up.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Brazil left the field to loud boos and whistling, and manager Tite wasted no time in making a change at half-time, bringing on Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus for Richarlison.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jesus made an instant impact looking lively down the left flank and curling a shot just wide of the post on 57 minutes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Moments later Jesus looked to have fired Brazil into the lead.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Once again the striker advanced menacingly on the Venezuela penalty area and unleashed a fierce low shot.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The ball deflected off Villanueva into the path of Firmino, who then squared for Jesus who continued his run.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The striker took a touch and buried his finish as the home fans erupted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But the festive atmosphere fell flat as the goal was referred to VAR, who promptly chalked the score off after ruling Firmino had been offside when he collected the ricochet.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A deflated Brazil took several minutes to regroup but grew increasingly desperate as valuable minutes ticked away and Venezuela held firm.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jesus went close again in the 76th minute when Dani Alves whipped a cross into the six-yard box.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But again Venezuela's defense was rock-solid, with Jesus bundled off the ball and unable to get a shot away.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Coutinho looked to have broken the deadlock three minutes from time, but VAR's intervention rescued a precious point for Venezuela.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fernandinho almost snatched victory with a header in the 10th minute of time added on, but his effort rolled just wide of the post.</p>
<p class="title">Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw against Venezuela in the Copa America on Tuesday as a late strike from Philippe Coutinho was disallowed after a controversial VAR decision.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Coutinho thought he had fired Brazil into the quarter-finals in the 87th minute when he bundled home a finish from Everton Soares' driving run down the left wing at Salvador's Arena Fonte Nova.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But for the second time in the match, Chilean referee Julio Bascunan ruled out the Brazilian goal after being alerted to an infringement by the video assistant referee.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The goal appeared to have been disallowed due to a touch by Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino, although it was not clear that Firmino had been offside as the ball grazed him on the way into the net.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Brazil left the field to boos but remain top of Group A with four points from two games, and one game to play.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Venezuela have two points from two games and will fancy their chances of advancing with their final game coming against Bolivia, who suffered their second straight defeat earlier Tuesday in a 3-1 loss to Peru.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Brazil, who had made hard work of beating Bolivia in their opener, once again struggled to find a creative spark against well-organized opponents.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Firmino was kept quiet by Venezuela's defense with Yordan Osorio and Mikel Villanueva neutralizing the Liverpool striker.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The tale of the first half lay in the statistics from the opening 45 minutes, with Brazil recording only one shot on target despite enjoying 75 percent possession.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In fact, the best chance of the half fell to Venezuela, when Salomon Rondon headed Yangel Herrera's cross just inches wide with Alisson beaten.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Firmino did get the ball in the Venezuela net in the 38th minute but the goal was disallowed after Bascunan ruled Villanueva had been fouled in the build-up.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Brazil left the field to loud boos and whistling, and manager Tite wasted no time in making a change at half-time, bringing on Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus for Richarlison.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jesus made an instant impact looking lively down the left flank and curling a shot just wide of the post on 57 minutes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Moments later Jesus looked to have fired Brazil into the lead.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Once again the striker advanced menacingly on the Venezuela penalty area and unleashed a fierce low shot.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The ball deflected off Villanueva into the path of Firmino, who then squared for Jesus who continued his run.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The striker took a touch and buried his finish as the home fans erupted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But the festive atmosphere fell flat as the goal was referred to VAR, who promptly chalked the score off after ruling Firmino had been offside when he collected the ricochet.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A deflated Brazil took several minutes to regroup but grew increasingly desperate as valuable minutes ticked away and Venezuela held firm.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jesus went close again in the 76th minute when Dani Alves whipped a cross into the six-yard box.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But again Venezuela's defense was rock-solid, with Jesus bundled off the ball and unable to get a shot away.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Coutinho looked to have broken the deadlock three minutes from time, but VAR's intervention rescued a precious point for Venezuela.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fernandinho almost snatched victory with a header in the 10th minute of time added on, but his effort rolled just wide of the post.</p>