An 89th-minute goal by substitute Luiz Henrique on Thursday gave Brazil a 2-1 away win over Chile in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The win meant under-pressure Brazil coach Dorival Junior’s team finished the ninth round of the round-robin competition in fourth place in South American qualifying.
Earlier, Lionel Messi’s Argentina drew Venezuela 1-1 in a match that was delayed for 30 minutes due to a wet pitch at Monumental Stadium in Maturin, Venezuela.
Photo: AFP
Argentina, who lead the 10-team competition, have 19 points after nine matches. Colombia, with 16 points, remains in second place after losing 1-0 in Bolivia. Uruguay are third with 15 points.
Chile, who are one of the worst-performing teams in South American qualifying, opened the scoring seconds after the kickoff at the National Stadium in Santiago. Veteran striker Eduardo Vargas headed past goalkeeper Ederson, with the ball gently touching the back of the net.
Brazil struggled to create clear chances, but managed to equalize in first-half stoppage-time with a header by Igor Jesus, who came in as a replacement for the injured Vinicius Junior. The visitors kept most of the possession in the second half, but still failed to create clear chances.
In the final minutes, Henrique decided to take his chances from the edge of the penalty area. The winning goal made several Chile players throw themselves to the ground in anguish.
“This shirt means a lot. It is a great feeling for us to wear it. We know what is happening, but we wanted to change it,” Henrique said. ”Our fans can be sure we will fight always for this team. We are the only five-time World Cup champions, we will play with passion.”
Dorival Junior said that his team would continue to have ups and downs as the coach tries out new players.
“We will have a very strong team two years from now, but it is only in the dictionary that success comes before work,” he said.
Defender Nicolas Otamendi opened the scoring for Argentina in the 13th minute. He pushed the ball into the empty net after a cross by Messi and a mistake by goalkeeper Rafael Romo.
Salomon Rondon equalized in the 65th minute with a header for the only South American team that has yet to play in a World Cup.
“The pitch did not help us do what we wanted to do,” said Messi, who returned to the national team after missing the two previous rounds of South American qualifying due to ligament damage in his right ankle.
Venezuela’s Jon Aramburu said his team wanted a win to show their ambition.
“The rain affected the match, we couldn’t play well,” he said. “We drew against a team that everyone knows of its potential, but this team is here to beat them, to compete.”
Colombia, who had been the last unbeaten team in South American qualifying, were shocked in Bolivia at the Municipal Stadium in El Alto, more than 4,000m above sea level.
Bolivia moved into fifth place with 12 points after their first win in 21 years against Colombia.
Miguel Terceros, also known as Miguelito, scored the winning goal for Bolivia in the 58th minute with a powerful shot after dribbling past two defenders.
Bolivia had lost Hector Cuellar to a straight red card in the 21st minute after a gruesome tackle that forced the substitution of striker Roger Martinez, but the team remained competitive until the end of the match.
“We are a young team that wants to change history,” Terceros said. “Now we will travel to Argentina thinking about winning.”
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