Argentina have been held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela on Lionel Messi’s return as Brazil obtained their 2026 World Cup qualifying marketing campaign again on observe with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Chile on Thursday. Messi, who missed Argentina’s final spherical of fixtures in September because of damage, seemed to have put the world champions heading in the right direction for victory after his free-kick helped arrange Nicolas Otamendi’s Thirteenth-minute opener within the Venezuelan metropolis of Maturin.
But a battling efficiency by Venezuela in entrance of their residence followers was rewarded halfway by way of the second half when veteran striker Salomon Rondon met Yeferson Soteldo’s cross with a header that flew previous Argentina goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
Despite the dropped factors, 2022 World Cup winners Argentina stay firmly heading in the right direction for a spot on the 2026 finals, that are being staged within the United States, Canada and Mexico.
With the event expanded to 48 groups, the highest six finishers in South America’s 10-team round-robin qualifying competitors will earn a ticket to the finals.
Argentina lead the standings with 19 factors from 9 video games, three factors away from second-placed Colombia, who suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Bolivia in different qualifying motion on Thursday.
Yet whereas Argentina look poised to qualify comfortably, rivals Brazil proceed to make laborious work of their qualifying marketing campaign.
Chile, who’re one place off the underside of the standings, rocked Brazil after simply two minutes when veteran striker Eduardo Vargas steered a looping header over Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson to make it 1-0.
But Brazil drew stage in first-half stoppage time after Savinho labored himself into area earlier than crossing for Botafogo ahead Igor Jesus to go residence.
The match seemed destined to complete in a draw till the 89th minute, when Brazil substitute Luiz Henrique arrowed in a low shot from the sting of the world to make it 2-1.
The win strikes Brazil into fourth place within the standings with 13 factors from 9 video games, six factors adrift from leaders Brazil.
Bolivia enhance
Elsewhere Thursday, Bolivia boosted their hopes of a primary World Cup look since 1994 with their gutsy 1-0 win over Colombia in a recreation performed within the skinny air of El Alto, which is located at round 4,150m (13,600 ft) above sea stage.
An outstanding particular person objective from Miguel Terceros handed the Bolivians their fourth victory of qualifying and vaulted them up into the automated qualification positions.
Bolivia’s fortunes have taken a dramatic upturn because the group began enjoying qualifiers in El Alto, which is simply over 500m greater than the Bolivians’ regular residence venue of the Estadio Hernando Siles in close by La Paz.
Bolivia opted to maneuver fixtures to El Alto after shedding two out of their opening three residence qualifiers in La Paz final yr.
The transfer has paid off, with Thursday’s 1-0 win coming after a 4-0 rout of Venezuela on the identical venue in September.
After claiming a shock 2-1 win away to Chile final month, Bolivia at the moment are sitting in sixth place within the South American standings with 12 factors from 9 video games.
Terceros’s profitable objective arrived within the 58th minute, with the 20-year-old winger who performs for Brazilian membership Santos chopping in from the appropriate flank, shimmying previous Colombian defenders Jhon Lucumi and Kevin Castano and unleashing a left-footed thunderbolt that flew into the highest nook.
Bolivia are stage on factors with Ecuador, who completed the day in fifth place within the desk after a 0-0 draw with Paraguay in Quito.
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