Brazil on brink, Messi revives Argentina
MONTEVIDEO: Brazil thrashed Uruguay to move to the brink of the World Cup finals on Thursday (Friday in Manila) as Lionel Messi got Argentina’s faltering qualification campaign back on track with the only goal to sink Chile.
A superb hat trick from China-based Barcelona superstar Neymar added midfielder Paulinho powered Brazil to a third with a sublime chip in the 75th a 4-1 drubbing of the Uruguayans in minute to effectively settle the contest. Montevideo to leave the five-time Paulinho completed his hat trick world champions all-but-certain of a in injury time, turning in a low cross place at next year’s finals in Russia. with his chest to cap a fine display.
The Brazilians now lead the 10Uruguay, who were missing the team round-robin competition by suspended Luis Suarez, remain in seven points after their latest win. second place in the standings.
The top four teams in the standings “To come here and win by any qualify automatically and with only score is a great result,” Brazil coach five rounds remaining, it would take a Tite said afterwards. “Playing in this freakish set of results to deny Brazil. stadium and beating Uruguay is dif
Uruguay had taken the lead after ficult for anyone.” only nine minutes when Brazil goalkeeper Alisson brought down Paris Saint- Germain striker Edinson Cavani for a penalty.
Cavani got to his feet and drilled the spot-kick beyond the Brazilian goalkeeper to put Uruguay 1-0 up.
But Paulinho produced a thunderbolt 10 minutes later, uncorking a screamer into the top corner from 25 yards to level at 1-1.
The midfielder then stabbed home Philippe Coutinho’s shot in the 51st minute to make it 2-1. Uruguay skipper Diego Godin said the final scoreline was not an accurate reflection of the game.
“We trained well, we looked strong,” the Atletico Madrid defender said. “It’s a bitter result. We had chances. This doesn’t reflect the game.” “But this is a wake-up call.” In Buenos Aires, Argentina had entered their clash with Chile desperately needing to take all three points to revive their campaign.
And captain 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.
Last year, Messi was left distraught after missing his penalty in the shootout at the Copa America Centenario in New York.
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.
The win leaves Argentina in third place overall in the 10-team qualifying competition with 22 points from 13 games.
But the defeat means two-time reigning South American champions Chile are still struggling to qualify for Russia.
The Chileans remain outside the automatic qualification places. Colombia, the 2014 World Cup quarter- finalists, boosted their chances of qualification with a 1-0 win over Bolivia in Barranquilla.
Real Madrid star James Rodriguez bundled in the rebound from his own late penalty to claim the points.
Rodriguez rammed home his finish at the second attempt after Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe had saved the playmaker’s spotkick on 83 minutes.
Until Rodriguez’s late winner, it looked as if Bolivia had done enough to earn a point, defending in depth and frustrating the hosts at every turn.
But Bolivia’s luck ran out when Cristian Coimbra brought down winger Juan Cuadrado with a clumsy challenge to give Rodriguez his chance for glory.