Marquinhos and Neymar Jr on the scoresheet on their debuts in the Copa!
The Copa America 2021 got underway on Sunday in Brazil, with Marquinhos and Neymar Jr kicking off their campaign with the Seleção.
The Brazilians (current holders of the title) are the hosts of the prestigious Copa America for the second consecutive competition. They opened the ball at the Estádio Nacional de Brasília with a 3-0 victory over Venezuela.
As they had been in each of the World Cup 2022 qualifiers, our Parisians Marquinhos and Neymar Jr were selected to start by Tite. And they once again made the headlines with both of them finding the back of the net.
Marquinhos opened the scoring (23') and in doing so, recorded the first goal of the 2021 Copa America. Then Neymar Jr extended the home side's lead in the second half from the penalty spot (64'), making it a goal in each of his last three games for Brazil. He capped off his performance with an assist for the final goal of the encounter for Gabriel Barbosa (89').
Brazil - Venezuela: 3-0
Copa America 2021 – Group B - Group Stage, Match 1
Estádio Nacional de Brasília
Goals: Marquinhos (23'), Neymar Jr (64', pen), Gabriel Barbosa (89')
BRAZIL: Alisson; Lodi (Sandro, 45'), Militao, Marquinhos, Danilo; Fred (Fabinho, 85'), Casemiro, Neymar Jr, Paquetá, Richarlison (Barbosa, 65'); Jesús (Vinicius Jr, 85').
Coach: Tite.
VENEZUELA: Graterol; Moreno, La Mantía, Aristeguieta (Córdova, 77'), Martínez, Mago, González (Peseiro, 92e), Cásseres (Castillo, 84'), Manzano (Celis, 77') Cumana, Martínez.
Coach: José Peseiro
