SAO PAULO (AP) — An 89th-minute objective by substitute Luiz Henrique gave Brazil a 2-1 away win over Chile on Thursday in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match.
The win meant under-pressure Brazil coach Dorival Júnior’s staff will end the ninth spherical of the round-robin competitors in fourth place in South American qualifying.
Earlier, Lionel Messi’s Argentina drew Venezuela 1-1 in a match that was delayed for half-hour because of a moist pitch at Monumental Stadium in the Venezuelan metropolis of Maturin.
Argentina, which leads the 10-team competitors, has 19 factors after 9 matches. Colombia, with 16 factors, stays in second place after dropping 1-0 at Bolivia. Uruguay is third with 15 factors and has an opportunity so as to add extra in a match in opposition to Peru on Friday. Brazil has 13 factors.
Brazil has dramatic comeback
Chile, one of many worst-performing groups in South American qualifying, opened the scoring seconds after the kickoff on the Nationwide Stadium in Santiago. Veteran striker Eduardo Vargas headed previous goalkeeper Ederson, with the ball gently touching the again of the web.
Brazil struggled to create clear possibilities, however managed to equalize in added time with a header by its new striker, Igor Jesus, who got here in as a substitute for injured Vinicius Júnior. The guests stored a lot of the ball possession in the second half, however nonetheless did not get clear possibilities.
Within the ultimate minutes, Henrique determined to take his possibilities from the sting of the field. The profitable objective made a number of Chile gamers throw themselves to the bottom in anguish.
Brazil’s subsequent match will likely be in opposition to Peru in Brasilia. Chile will journey to Colombia.
“This shirt means quite a bit. It’s a nice feeling for us to put on it. We all know what is occurring, however we needed to vary it,” mentioned Henrique. ”Our followers could be certain we are going to combat all the time for this staff. We’re the one five-time World Cup champions, we are going to play with ardour.”
Dorival Júnior mentioned that his staff will proceed to have ups and downs because the coach tries out new gamers.
“We could have a really robust staff two years from now,” Júnior mentioned, in a reference for the subsequent World Cup. “However it’s only in the dictionary that success comes earlier than work.”
Messi returns for Argentina
Defender Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring for Argentina in the thirteenth minute. He pushed the ball to the empty web after a cross by Messi and a mistake by goalkeeper Rafael Romo.
Salomón Rondón equalized in the sixty fifth minute with a header for the one South American staff that has but to play in a World Cup.
“The pitch didn’t assist us do what we needed to do,” mentioned Messi, who returned to the nationwide staff after lacking the 2 earlier rounds of South American qualifying because of ligament injury in his proper ankle.
Venezuela defender Jon Aramburu mentioned his staff needed a win to point out its ambition.
“The rain affected the match, we couldn’t play properly,” he mentioned. “We drew in opposition to a staff that everybody is aware of of its potential. However this staff is right here to beat them, to compete.”
Bolivia in the clouds to beat Colombia
Colombia, which had been the final unbeaten staff in South American qualifying, was shocked at Bolivia in the Municipal Stadium in the town of El Alto, greater than 4,000 meters (13,000 toes) above sea degree. Bolivia moved into fifth place with 12 factors after its first win in 21 years in opposition to the Colombians.
Miguel Terceros, also called Miguelito, scored the profitable objective for Bolivia in the 58th minute with a strong shot after dribbling by two defenders.
Bolivia had misplaced Héctor Cuellar to a straight pink card in the twenty first minute after a ugly deal with that compelled the substitution of striker Roger Martinez, however the staff remained aggressive till the top of the match in its high-altitude stadium.
“We’re a younger staff that wishes to vary historical past,” Terceros mentioned. “Now we are going to journey to Argentina serious about profitable.”
Bolivia hasn’t certified for a World Cup for the reason that 1994 version in the US.
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