NEYMAR HAT-TRICK nets Brazil win as he moves closer to Pele
With 64 goals, Neymar passed super striker Ronaldo in the Brazilian national team’s all-time scoring tally and is now behind legend of the sport Pele, who tops the list with 77 goals
A hat-trick from superstar Neymar enabled Brazil to turn the tide against Peru and win Tuesday’s World Cup qualifying match 4-2 at Estadio Nacional in Lima.
Brazil trailed the hosts after Andre Carrillo opened the scoring in the fifth minute, but they equalised with Neymar’s first goal in the 27th.
Peru were ahead once more when Renato Tapia scored three minutes into the seecond half, but Brazil came out on top after goals from Neymar in the 82nd and 94th minutes and another from Richarlison in the 65th minute.
Peruvian ex-Bundesliga player Carlos ambrano was red-carded towards the end of the game.
The previous day Peruvian strikers Raul Ruidiaz and Alex Valera had tested positive to the novel coronavirus but did not show serious symptoms.
With 64 goals, Neymar passed super striker Ronaldo in the Brazilian national team’s all-time scoring tally and is now behind legend of the sport Pele, who tops the list with 77 goals.
Brazil coach Tite played down comparisons to other Brazilian greats but said the 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain
striker was getting “better and better” as he matures.
Earlier on Tuesday, Argentina won their second qualifying match by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in La Paz.
The hosts initially appeared to have an advantage in the high-altitude match - at 3,650 metres above sea level - and took the lead with a Marcelo Martins goal at 24 minutes.
Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez then equalized moments before the end of the first half.
Joaquin Correa secured the win for the Albiceleste with a goal in the 79th minute.
Argentina won their first qualifying match against Ecuador last week 1-0, while Bolivia were trounced 5-0 by fivetime world champions Brazil.
Brazil top the table on goal difference from Argentina with Colombia third on four points thanks to Radamel Falcao’s 90th minute equalizer in Chile.
Jefferson Lerma had put the guests ahead and though Arturo Vidal, from the spot, and Alexis Sanchez turned the tie seventh-placed Chile were denied late on to remain winless.
The start of the South American qualifying campaign for the 2022 finals in Qatar was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Games are played behind closed doors and amid strict safety and hygiene rules as the region is currently one of the pandemic hotspots.
Following the death of association president Cesar Salinas, Bolivian football is being rattled by internal conflicts. Several clubs have not released their players, while national coach Cesar Farias has been accused of corruption.
They are bottom of the 10-team round-robin league which sees the top four qualify for Qatar and the fifth-placed side enter a play-off.
Scoreline: Brazil 4 (Neymar 28’ (P), 83’ (P), 90+4, Richarlison 64’) bt Peru 2 (Andre Carrilo 6’, Renato Tapia 59’).