Gabriel Jesus scores audacious lob as Brazil take charge of South American qualifying group

VENEZUELA 0-2 BRAZIL: Chelsea midfielder Willian scored the other goal as the Canarinha leapfrogged Uruguay

While Argentina struggled without Lionel Messi , it was a case of no Neymar ,no problem for arch rivals Brazil as they nabbed a vital win in Venezuela.

The Brazilians went top of South America’s World Cup qualifying group with a 2-0 victory in a match that was played in torrential rain and halted for almost half an hour when the floodlights failed in Merida.

Conditions were awful but they played no part in Brazil’s opener, which was simply a shocker from goalkeeper Daniel Hernandez.

The Venezuelan shotstopper attempted to find a central defender with a sweeping pass but only succeeded in playing in Gabriel Jesus, with the teen star lobbing the stranded Hernandez from 25 yards.

Brazil controlled the game therein against a team that hasn’t won in ten qualifiers now, and they got the second goal that their play had so richly deserved in the second half when Willian arrived at the back post to tuck home a low, teasing cross from Renato Augusto.

he only major disruption to the Brazilian performance came when the floodlights in the Metropolitano stadium went out after 72 minutes.

The game restarted nearly half an hour later but there was not much more excitement and new Brazil coach Tite registered his fourth win in four games at the head of the national side.

The result allowed Brazil to leapfrog Uruguay into top spot of South American qualifying and if they can avoid defeat to Argentina in Belo Horizonte next month then they’re in great shape to book their ticket to Russia.