The Venezuelan national team and Brazil played to a 1-1 draw in their match on November 14, during the 11th round of the South American qualifiers for the World Cup. The game took place at the Estadio Monumental in Maturín.
In the first half, Brazil dominated the field, forcing Venezuela’s defense to stay on the defensive for most of the half. Brazilian player Raphinha managed to score a beautifully placed free kick in the 43rd minute, leaving the Venezuelan goalkeeper, who had been a crucial player up to that point, unable to stop it.
The second half saw a swift comeback from Venezuela, with substitute Telasco Segovia scoring a fantastic goal just 41 seconds after entering the match in the 46th minute. This was a result of a well-coordinated two-touch play on the wing.
Venezuela continued to create opportunities throughout the second half but faced a turning point when Venezuelan keeper Romo mishandled the ball, allowing Brazil a penalty at the 62nd minute, which Romo ultimately saved after stopping Vinícius’s initial shot. This miss boosted Venezuela’s morale, but despite being down one player due to Alexander González’s expulsion, Brazil could not take advantage to secure a victory.
With this draw, Venezuela now has 12 points in the qualifiers, while Brazil holds 17 points. Looking ahead, Brazil will face Uruguay, and Venezuela will take on Chile in their next matches on November 19.
Notably, this draw marks a historic achievement for Venezuela, as it is the first time they have avoided defeat against Brazil at home, having lost all ten previous encounters. Venezuela is now the fifth team in history to score points off Brazil in two matches in the same World Cup qualifying edition.
Rafael Romo has shown remarkable skill, having saved three out of the four penalties he has faced during this qualifying campaign, further establishing himself as a key player for Venezuela. Raphinha continues to shine for Brazil, now holding the title of the national team’s leading scorer in the qualifiers with four goals to his name.
Telasco Segovia’s quick goal also set a record for the fastest goal scored by a substitute in the South American qualifiers since Ezequiel Lavezzi did so in 2011, showcasing Venezuela’s depth and talent.
In summary, though the match ended in a draw, both teams demonstrated resilience and skill, providing hope for fans as they prepare for the upcoming matches. Venezuela’s performance, particularly at home against a storied opponent like Brazil, is a positive sign for their future in the qualifiers.