The biggest game of the Copa America 2015 group stage was upon us, this game would decide who finished where in Group C and who will play who in the first games of the knock-out phase.
Brazil took an early lead after nine minutes as a Robinho corner was met majestically by Thiago Silva, who rifled the ball past Alain Baroja in the Venezuelan goal.
They came close soon after as Robinho flashed a sensational volley just over the top, it would undoubtedly have been the goal of the tournament thus far.
The match turned from football to pinball in the 24th minute as a Brazilian corner bounced in the box, hitting a number of bodies before eventually being scrapped clear.
Brazil were quick to regain possession in the midfield throughout the half, regularly nipping in front of the Venezuelan players to snatch the ball and start an attack of their own.
That was the exact reason Baroja was forced into his next save. Brazil rapidly turned over possession through Miranda with the ball eventually finding its way to Willian via Robinho, but the Chelsea winger was unable to beat Baroja.
The closest Venezuela came in the first half was in the final seconds of it as Alejandro Guerra’s mis-hit cross almost caught Jefferson off guard, but span wide of the post.
Thiago Silva almost doubled his goal tally for the game early in the second half with a powerful header from another Robinho corner, but Baroja made an excellent save down to his left to deny the PSG centre-back.
As Venezuela tried to force an equaliser Brazil caught them off guard and punished them. Roberto Rosales was left chasing by Willian, who played a magnificent outside of the boot ball to Roberto Firmino in the middle for a tap in.
With six minutes to go Venezuela did their best to make the final minutes thrilling. Juan Arango’s marvelous free-kick was saved brilliantly by Jefferson, but the ball ricocheted off the post to substitute Miku, who nodded home from close range.
As stoppage time kicked in Brazil came close as Dani Alves struck just wide of Baroja’s goal.
The four minutes of stoppage time were not enough for Venezuela to force an equaliser, seeing Venezuela eliminated from the tournament.
Copa America 2015 quarter-finals:
Chile v Uruguay
Bolivia v Peru
Argentina v Colombia
Brazil v Paraguay
Brazil: Jefferson, Alves, T.Silva, Miranda, Filipe, Fernandinho, Elias, Willian, Robinho (Marquinhos 76), Coutinho (Tardelli 67), Firmino (David Luiz 67)
Venezuela: Baroja, Rosales, Túñez, Vizcarrondo, Cichero, R.Vargas (González 46), Guerra (Miku 71), Rincón, Seijas (Martínez 46), Arango, Rondón
Booked: R.Vargas, Seijas, T.Silva, Tuñez
Goalscorers: T. Silva, Firmino, Miku
Man of the Match: Dani Alves. The Barcelona full-back worked tirelessly up and down the right hand side today, kickstarting many Brazilian attacks and breaking up many Venezuelan attacks too.