Lacking a pointy of completion, Brazil lamented lacking a collection of alternatives after a 0-0 draw in opposition to Costa Rica of their Copa America Group D opener in Los Angeles on Monday.
Despite dominating possession, Brazil, combating latest poor outcomes, managed solely three photographs on course from 19 makes an attempt, highlighting their inefficiency within the last third.
“Now it’s about being honest with ourselves, creating alternatives to create chances, scoring; results are important in this competition. Points left at the beginning can complicate things at the end,” Brazil defender Marquinhos stated.
They have been annoyed by a resolute five-man Costa Rican protection, which seemed to comprise their opponents and deprive them of area. The technique paid dividends even when Gustavo Alfaro’s aspect rode their luck at instances.
Alfaro stated Costa Rica had been written off earlier than the match had even began.
“We were Bruce Willis in ‘The Sixth Sense,’ where the only one that did not know he was dead was him, right?” he stated by way of an interpreter. “Well, everyone thought we were dead before the movie started in our case.”
Raphinha had a wonderful early alternative to attain after latching onto a protracted ball excessive from Rodrygo, however Costa Rica keeper Patrick Sequeira got here shortly off his line to snuff out the hazard.
Brazil thought that they had the breakthrough within the thirtieth minute when a free kick was flicked on by Rodrygo into the trail of Marquinhos, who poked it in on the far submit, however the aim was disallowed for offside after a prolonged VAR delay.
The one-way site visitors continued after the break, and Lucas Paqueta rattled the woodwork with a long-range effort within the 63rd minute earlier than a venomous Guilherme Arana strike was saved out by a wonderful save from Sequeira.
Coach Dorival Junior introduced on children Endrick and Savio within the seventieth minute as Brazil desperately sought a winner, however Paqueta twice shot huge within the last 10 minutes because the nine-time champions failed to interrupt the impasse.
“We played a great game, we fought until the end. I had three chances myself. We were frustrated not to win, but we left with confidence, we fought,” Paqueta stated. “We played our game, we have to improve our finishing, myself in particular and other players, so that we can win.”
Brazil’s all-time main scorer Neymar, who has been sidelined by an anterior cruciate ligament damage, reduce a dejected determine as he seemed on from the stands.
Costa Rica, who had misplaced 3 times to Brazil on the World Cup and twice extra in earlier Copa America encounters, had solely two photographs throughout Monday’s sport, with none on course, however held on to assert what might show a useful level of their marketing campaign within the United States.
Colombia leads Group D following their 2-1 win over Paraguay earlier on Monday.
Source: www.dailysabah.com