Paraguay's Dario Veron (L) goes for a header against Ecuador's Felipe Caicedo during a Copa America soccer match in Santa Fe, Argentina Sunday. (AP) LA PLATA, Argentina – Brazil was supposed to turn on the style Sunday and ease past rank outsider Venezuela in kickstarting a bid for a hoped-for third consecutive Copa America triumph. Instead, the Venezuelans, straining every sinew for every ball, put the hex on the auriverde at the Estadio Unico in La Plata and secured a second goalless draw with its much-lauded rival in a row. Just over a decade ago the five-time world champion slaughtered its counterpart from the Caribbean nation 7-0 to get a triumphant Copa campaign under way. But where Ronaldo, Ronaldino and Rivaldo found rich pickings on that occasion, Brazil this time were left to contemplate only sour grapes as it found this year's ‘Vinotinto' made of sterner stuff. Hot young talents Neymar and Ganso from Santos, plus comparatively elder statesmen and Milan stars Pato and Robinho were supposed to form the Magic Quartet to create the kind of sumptuous fare served up for France two decades ago by Michel Platini, Alain Giresse, Luis Fernandez and Jean Tigana. But on Sunday's evidence it's more back to square one than magic square for the Brazilians. Ecuador was more or less satisfied but Paraguay felt irked after the pair fought out a goalless stalemate in Group B.
