Argentina, Brazil win World Cup qualifiers; Colombia draw

Leaders Brazil and second-place Argentina gained their away matches in South American World Cup qualifiers on Thursday forward of their superclasico. Neither Lionel Messi nor Neymar had nice performances for his or her groups.
Brazil topped Chile 1-0 in Santiago in a tense match regardless of the absence of 9 of its England-based gamers, together with 5 starters, who weren’t launched by their golf equipment resulting from COVID-19-related quarantine restrictions.
The solely aim of the match was scored by substitute Everton Ribeiro. Brazil now has 21 factors with seven wins after seven matches. Chile is seventh with six factors.
Brazil’s arch-rivals Argentina defeated Venezuela 3-1 on the Olimpico Stadium in Caracas. Lautaro Martinez, Joaquin Correa and Angel Correa scored for the guests. Jeferson Soteldo netted from the spot for the hosts seconds earlier than the ultimate whistle. Argentina is second on the desk with 15 factors. Venezuela is on the underside of the 10-team spherical robin with 4 factors.
This spherical of South American qualifiers has seen a number of England-based gamers not journey resulting from COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the British authorities to international locations of the area. Argentina, although, didn’t lose any of the 4 it referred to as in. The first 4 groups will routinely qualify to play in Qatar subsequent yr. The fifth-place crew will participate in a world playoff. In its 1-0 victory over Chile, Brazil was with out 5 frequent starters for the match. Goalkeeper Ederson, defender Thiago Silva, midfielder Fred, and strikers Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus didn’t journey to South America.
Brazil’s Neymar, heart, kicks the ball in an try to attain towards Chile throughout a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Monumental Stadium in Santiago, Chile (Photo: AP)
Coach Tite determined to alter the crew’s formation to make use of 4 males up entrance; Lucas Paquetá, Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Barbosa and Neymar. His substitute goalkeeper Weverton was the perfect participant of the primary half in Santiago, making key saves in a free kick taken by Arturo Vidal and the rebound headed by Eduardo Vargas.
The second half had a extra proactive Brazil. Vinicius Jr. left for Everton Ribeiro and Bruno Guimaraes was changed by Gerson. Chile had fewer alternatives to attain and ran the danger of providing extra harmful counters to the guests. Chile stored many of the ball possession, however didn’t provide a lot danger to Weverton till the top of the match.

Asked about Sunday’s clasico, Ribeiro stated it is not going to be a rematch after Argentina’s 1-0 victory on the Maracana Stadium in July’s Copa America closing. “But it will be a historic match, facing Argentina is always tough,” he stated.. On the opposite hand, Copa America champions Argentina performed with a person benefit after 32 minutes when defender Venezuelan Adrián Martinez was despatched off after a harsh sort out on Messi.Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, assisted by Giovanni Lo Celso. Joaquin Correa doubled the lead within the 71st minute from the sting of the field after a fast change with Messi and Lautaro. Ángel Correa netted the third from shut vary three minutes later. Argentina’s victory was clinched when Soteldo scored for the hosts from the spot.
“Today we had a great first half and they were down one,” Lautaro stated. “After we scored we managed to work with more gaps so we could bring the three points home.” Had Argentina misplaced at Venezuela it could have been overtaken by Ecuador, who beat Paraguay 2-0 hours earlier. Felix Torres scored the primary aim within the 88th minute with a header. Michael Estrada netted his in added time. Argentina has 15 factors and Ecuador 12 in third place. Ecuador will host Chile within the subsequent spherical, whereas sixth-place Paraguay is to tackle fifth-place Colombia, which has 9 factors after securing a 1-1 draw with Bolivia within the altitude of La Paz.
Roger Martinez’s aim within the 69th minute gave Colombia the lead earlier than Fernando Saucedo’s blast from outdoors the field leveled for eighth-place Bolivia within the 83rd minute. Also on Thursday, Peru and Uruguay drew 1-1 in Lima. The hosts opened the scoring with Renato Tapia within the twenty fourth minute with a bicycle kick. But Giorgian de Arrascaeta stored the Uruguayans in rivalry with a aim within the twenty ninth minute, regardless of the absence of injured Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, who was not launched by Manchester United.
In different matches Sunday, Uruguay will host Bolivia. Peru will tackle Venezuela.