Copa America PIX: Brazil have three goals disallowed, held

Roberto Firmino had a goal chalked off late in the first half after the referee awarded a foul against the hosts, before substitute Gabriel Jesus found the net on the hour mark only for a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review to deem Firmino offside in the build-up.

Brazil meet Peru in their final group game on Saturday with both sides needing only a draw to seal their place in the quarter-finals

Copa America hosts Brazil had three goals ruled out and missed a series of chances as they were held 0-0 by Group A rivals Venezuela on Tuesday.

Roberto Firmino had a goal chalked off late in the first half after the referee awarded a foul against the hosts, before substitute Gabriel Jesus found the net on the hour mark only for a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review to deem Firmino offside in the build-up.

Philippe Coutinho looked to have finally found the winner when he netted from close range but VAR intervened again.

Brazil lead the group on four points ahead of Peru, who beat Bolivia 3-1 earlier in the day and also have four points.

Brazil meet Peru in their final group game on Saturday with both sides needing only a draw to seal their place in the quarter-finals. Venezuela have two points while Bolivia are without a point, with the two facing each other on Saturday.

The top two in each group are guaranteed a place in the last eight, along with the two highest-ranked teams finishing third.

Brazil made a brighter start than in their 3-0 win over Boliva in the tournament curtain raiser but failed to take their chances as David Neres and Firmino missed the target and Richarlison was thwarted by Venezuela goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez.

Venezuela tightened things up at the back and nearly took a surprise lead when all-time top scorer Salomon Rondon narrowly missed the target with a near-post header.

Richarlison was taken off at halftime and replaced by ManchesterCity striker Jesus, who instantly livened up Brazil's attack but failed to help provide a goal.

The final whistle was greeted by loud boos from the unimpressed 39,000 supporters at the Arena Fonte Nova, the hosts again failing to attract a full house after underselling the opener, with over 10,000 seats left empty this time.

Brazil defender Thiago Silva said his side did not deserve the criticism they were getting.

"Venezuela were very defensive, we were sometimes too hasty in trying to make a quick final pass and that led us to lose a bit of confidence. But when you don't score goals it looks like everything is wrong," he told reporters.

"In the second half they practically never got out their own area. We didn't win because of small details." 

Peru come from behind to beat Bolivia 3-1 

Bolivia scored their first goal in five games but it was not enough to give them their first Copa America point as Peru came from behind to win 3-1 in their Group A game in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.

Bolivia, who last won Copa America in 1963, had not scored since drawing 2-2 with Nicaragua in March but they took the lead after 28 minutes when Marcelo Moreno scored a VAR-assisted penalty.

Paolo Guerrero equalised for Peru on the stroke of half time when he rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net and the big Internacional striker turned provider 10 minutes into the second half when he crossed for Jefferson Farfan to nod home and put Peru ahead.

Peru were the superior team in the second half and could have scored more but for a series of excellent saves by Bolivian goalkeeper Carlos Lampe.

However it was not until the fifth minute of stoppage time that substitute Edison Flores got their third when he finished off a counter attack.