Under 23 Olympic Pre-Olympic: Venezuela’s great goal that could have eliminated Brazil and VAR annuls it without explanation

With goals from Maurice AND Guilherme, Brazil they bounced back this Thursday, winning 2-1 over the hosts Venezuela on the penultimate date of the last home run of Sub 23 Olympic Pre-Olympicand the possibilities of being present Paris 2024 play heads-up against Argentina. But the story could have been very different if the VAR.

In the 72nd minute, with the score at 1-1, an action occurred that could have turned the tide of the match in favor of the locals, who in the event of victory would have reversed the group standings, eliminating the Brazilians. and further compromising the ranking of Mascherano’s boys.

Matias Lacava He received the ball on the edge of the area after a nice shot from his teammate Jovanny Bolívar and made a spectacular left-footed shot that left goalkeeper Mycael without a reply. Great goal and advantage for those led by the Argentine Ricardo Valiño, who if he won would put a foot and a half into the Olympic event in June.

The fact is that if Venezuela were to win they would reach four points, the same as Paraguay, leaving Argentina with two and Brazil without a unit, already eliminated. Since on Sunday, in the last match, Vinotinto clashed with Guaraníes, everything was given for a draw to classify both, leaving no escape for the Albiceleste.

The stadium exploded with Lacava’s great goal, who took off his shirt and ran towards one of the corners to shout 2-1, which was not welcomed by the rest of his teammates. A few moments later the VAR call came, which would have detected an advanced position by Bolívar which would have obstructed the view of the Brazilian goalkeeper.

It is unclear what the collaborators of Colombian referee Andrés José Rojas Noguera observed because, unlike other Conmebol competitions, the VAR audio is not shared on the official networks of the institution that governs South American football.

“If we were another country it would be a target, but we are Venezuela,” Lacava said after the match, still with anger on the surface but focused on what is to come.

Thanks to this result, Brazil added its first three points in two matches and entered the fight for the two South American places at the Paris Games. Venezuela remained with one point after two dates.

Canarinha will play for the standings on the final day against Argentina, left with two points after saving a heartbreaking 3-3 draw against Paraguay. Albirroja leads the final home run with four runs and will close out against Venezuela.

Brazil, Olympic gold medal winners on home soil in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020, had just lost 1-0 to Paraguay. The gold medal in Rio was the first in the history of the South American giant at the Olympic Games.

Venezuela’s Argentine coach, Valiño, said the duel was defined by the details and for this reason he had a bitter taste in his mouth of “having lost a match that we had to win”.

Valiño has stated in press statements that there is nothing to reproach his leaders for. He added that he feels proud of them and that he is confident that in the next match “they will do everything possible to win it and will wait” for what will happen in the other match on Sunday.

The top two in the rankings will qualify for Paris 2024 men’s football.

In the 57th minute, midfielder Mauricio scored from a cross by Endrick, who was just instrumental in Palmeiras’ title in the Brazilian championship and who will join Real Madrid in June, who paid almost $40 million for his transfer.

Venezuela did not give up and continued to look for the rival’s goal, which they finally managed to break in the 67th minute with a goal from striker Jovanny Bolívar.

In the 88th minute, forward Guilherme Biró, following a pass from Endrick, outpaced the Venezuelan defenders and scored the winning goal, which was worth it.