Montevideo (AFP)
Brazil and Argentina are trying to tweet outside the squadron in the South American qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, so the first made its best start in the qualifiers in 51 years, with its fourth successive victory over its stubborn Uruguayan host 2-0 Tuesday, while the second came back with its star Lionel Messi with points from Peru Two clean goals too.
Brazil, with its legend Pele and the likes of Tostao, had scored six consecutive victories at the start of the 1970 World Cup qualifiers, which won his title later in Mexico.
Brazil raised its lead with 12 full points, two points behind Argentina, which compensated for its last draw with Paraguay, while Colombia suffered a humiliating loss on the ground of Ecuador 1-6, so the latter rose to third place with nine points.
At the famous “Centenario” stadium in Montevideo, Brazil logically decided its confrontation with Uruguay in the first half, with two goals from Arthur’s shot from outside the area that rebounded from the defense into the net (34) and a beautiful header for Richarlison after a cross from Renan Lodi (45), taking advantage of the striker’s absence Luis Suarez, infected with the emerging coronavirus, then the other striker, Edinson Cavani, was sent off in the second half.
Brazil, whose star Neymar missed for the second match in a row due to injury, seems to be in a comfortable position to book one of the four qualifying cards for South America, noting that the five-time world champion (a record) is the only one who has not missed the World Cup since its launch in 1930 in Uruguay specifically.
Uruguay was the most dangerous start with a ball by young Darwin Nunes, which hit goalkeeper Ederson in front of empty stands due to the protocol to prevent the spread of the Corona virus.
Despite the Uruguay’s superiority, “Seleçao” took advantage of its first opportunity, when Arthur, who played instead of the injured Allen, received Gabriel Jess pass outside the area. He fired it from the back of defender Jose Jimenez and deceived the goalkeeper, scoring his first international goal in 21 matches.
Brazil, in turn, dominated the midfield to thwart the host’s reaction, until Richardson, the Everton striker, converted Woody’s cross into the net of Martin Campania, the goalkeeper of the Saudi club Al-Batin, scoring his eighth international goal.
Richarlison commented on his beautiful goal from the center of the area, “This is not my position. I am attacking towards the near post, but I happened to score a similar goal in exercises and I said to myself + If it succeeds in the exercises I will do it again +”
The Uruguay crossbar then resisted again, with veteran defender Diego Godin heading her head before the break.
Chilean referee Roberto Tobar raised a yellow card in the face of Cavani after friction with Richardson, but after confirming the video assistant referee, he returned and raised the red to dismiss him a third of an hour before the end of time, so Uruguay failed to beat Brazil for the first time since 2001.
Veteran Brazil defender Thiago Silva (93 caps) said, “We played in the absence of some key players, and our starter Neymar, but we managed to perform well and win. It is always difficult to defeat Uruguay. Even in the absence of the great striker Suarez, we are happy to keep our nets clean.” I think you need defensive strength to win titles. “
Brazil has not lost in the qualifiers since coach Tite assumed his duties in 2016 (14 wins and 2 draws).
– The efficacy of young Argentine men –
In the second match, Argentina compensated for their last draw with Paraguay with a deserved 2-0 win over Peru in Lima, with the goals of their attackers, Nicholas Gonzales (22 years old) and Lautaro Martinis (23 years old).
Her coach, Lionel Scaloni, is trying to build a coherent squad with his star, Lionel Messi, the world’s best player six times.
On Tuesday, he pushed two attackers against the Barcelona star. Gonzales, the German player, succeeded with a lightning goal in the 17th minute, before Inter striker Martinis strengthened the numbers nine minutes later.
It seems that Gonzales will compete for a key position in the “Albi Celeste” squad, absent from injured Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala, while Lucas Ocampos and Angel Di Maria sat on the bench after their regular performance last week against Paraguay (1-1).
Giovanni Lucelso continued to present his good levels in the middle and contributed to passing through the first goal of Gonzales, who dodged the defense and scored again in his second international match from a strong left.
Lautaro repeated the scene from a pass in the rear this time by Leandro Paredes, overcoming the goalkeeper and scoring his eleventh goal in 20 international matches.
“On the individual level, I didn’t play well against Paraguay, and I had to correct that day,” said the Inter Milan striker.
After the break, Messi tried to catch the net, but his most dangerous opportunity came close to the left post after a beautiful individual effort (76), to be unable to sign his 72nd international goal in his 142 international match.
“We needed to win (after Paraguay drew) … we played well from the start and created a lot of chances, and then the goals came,” said Messi, 33, the Barcelona star, who failed to score against Peru for the sixth time.
Colombia in crisis
Ecuador equaled the biggest victory in its history in the qualifiers, by crushing its guest Colombia 6-1, to achieve its third successive victory, including a remarkable victory over Uruguay 4-2.
Colombia’s Portuguese coach, Carlos Queiroz, made four substitutions before the end of the first half, amid blatant defensive mistakes, after “Los Cafeteros” was delayed by a quarter that bore the signatures of Robert Arboleda (7), Angel Mina (9), Michael Estrada (32) and Javier Arriaga (39), against An honorary penalty kick translated by James Rodriguez (45) to Colombia, which suffered a bitter second after last defeat against its Uruguay host 0-3.
“We knew that Colombia was depressed after what happened in Uruguay,” Estrada said. “We benefited from our quick play and we achieved victory.”
In the second half, “La Tree” continued her hobby and scored a double through Gonçalo Plata (80) and Parvis Estubinan (90).
Bolivia won its first point by drawing a 2-2 draw at Paraguay, with goals from Marcelio Moreno (41) and Boris Cespides (45), while landowner Angel Romero scored (19 from the penalty spot) and Kako (72).
Salomon Rondon scored a late goal (81), giving Venezuela its first victory over home to Chile, 2-1.
Venezuela, the only one from South America who did not participate in the World Cup, opened the registration early with Luis Gel Pino (9), before a quick tie by the veteran Chilean star Arturo Vidal (15).
The fifth and sixth rounds will be held in March 2021.
© 2020 AFP
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