Brazilian juggernaut rolls on
Selecao beat Uruguay 41 to virtually confirm spot in Russia; Messi’s winner revives Argentina’s campaign
thrashed Uruguay to move to the brink of the World Cup finals as Lionel Messi got Argentina’s faltering qualification campaign back on track with the only goal to sink Chile.
A superb hat-trick from midfielder Paulinho powered Brazil to a 4-1 drubbing of the Uruguayans in Montevideo to leave the five-time world champions allbut-certain of a place at next year’s finals in Russia.
The Brazilians now lead the 10-team round-robin competition by seven points after their latest win.
The top four teams in the standings qualify automatically and with only five rounds remaining, it would take a freakish set of results to deny Brazil.
Uruguay, who were missing the suspended Luis Suarez, remain in second place in the standings.
“To come here and win by any score is a great result,” Brazil coach Tite said afterwards. “Playing in this stadium and beating Uruguay is difficult for anyone.”
In Buenos Aires, Argentina had entered their clash with Chile desperately needing to take all three points to revive their campaign. And Messi duly delivered when it mattered as Argentina avenged last year’s Copa America Centenario final defeat to the Chileans with a 1-0 win.
Messi stroked home his penalty on 16 minutes after veteran Chile defender Jose Fuenzalida brought down Angel Di Maria with a clumsy challenge.
But the diminutive maestro made no mistake on Thursday, drilling his spot-kick beyond former Barcelona teammate Claudio Bravo to secure a vital three points for the two-time world champions.
Argentina finished the game on the back foot as Chile swarmed forward in search of an equaliser — a successful rearguard action that delighted coach Edgardo Bauza.
“It was great that we won against a good team, but for me the best thing was the way we fought,” Bauza said.