Brazil held to 0-0 draw by Costa Rica in a stunner to open Copa America group play
Brazil was held to a 0-0 draw by Costa Rica in its Copa America group play opener
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Brazil was held to a 0-0 draw by Costa Rica on Monday night, with the international powerhouse inauspiciously failing to break through offensively in its Copa America opener.
Although Brazil controlled play and outshot Costa Rica 18-2, the Seleção was held scoreless by a defense led by goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira, who made three saves while recording his fourth consecutive clean sheet.
Brazil also had an apparent goal by Marquinhos disallowed in the first half after a lengthy VAR check. The team known for decades of sublime offensive play never got closer to a score — and never got a break on several questionable refereeing calls — in front of a lively crowd of 67,158 dominated by their yellow-clad fans at SoFi Stadium.
The result left Colombia on top of Group D after its 2-1 victory over Paraguay. Brazil has won the Copa America nine times, but its current transitional squad led by Real Madrid stars Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo got off to a discouraging start.
