In a surprising turn of events, Brazil suffered their second consecutive defeat in the World Cup qualifiers as Colombia mounted a comeback to secure a 2-1 victory against the five-time champions. The loss pushed Brazil down to fifth place in the South American standings, adding pressure to their upcoming clash with long-time rivals Argentina.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz emerged as the hero for Colombia, netting two goals within four minutes late in the second half. The evening proved cathartic for Diaz, who dedicated the win to his father recently freed by Colombian guerrillas. The sold-out Metropolitano stadium in Barranquilla witnessed a dramatic turnaround as Brazil initially took the lead in the fourth minute through Gabriel Martinelli, assisted by Vinicius Jr.
Despite Brazil’s dominant start, the momentum shifted after the jet-heeled Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. exited the game due to a thigh injury in the first half. The home side, fueled by the passionate crowd, gradually seized control.
Diaz, determined to equalize, created ten attempts on target but faced strong resistance from his Liverpool teammate Alisson, who made a series of crucial saves. However, defensive lapses ultimately allowed Diaz to score two headers in the 75th and 79th minutes, leading to an emotional celebration dedicated to his father in the stands.
With three consecutive winless games, Brazil faces heightened scrutiny as they prepare to host Argentina at the iconic Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.
Uruguay Outclasses World Champions in Buenos Aires:
Meanwhile, Argentina, the current World Cup champions, faced a setback on Thursday, losing 2-0 at home to Uruguay. Despite the defeat, Argentina maintains their position at the top of the standings, but the loss of points after five consecutive victories raises concerns.
Uruguay showcased their dominance throughout the match at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires. Goals from Ronald Araujo in the 41st minute and Darwin Nunez in the 87th minute secured the victory for Uruguay, placing them second in the standings with 10 points, just two behind Argentina.
Lionel Messi, Argentina’s star player, acknowledged the physical prowess of Uruguay, stating, “They are a strong and physical team and played with more intensity. We struggled mightily to find ourselves and our game.”
Araujo’s first-time strike from inside the box and Nunez’s clinical finish in a counter-attack underscored Uruguay’s superior performance. Messi expressed frustration at his team’s inability to control the game, create chances, and counteract Uruguay’s physical style of play.
Colombia currently sits in third place with nine points, narrowly ahead of Venezuela, who secured a goalless draw at home against sixth-placed Ecuador. Ecuador, one point behind Brazil in fifth place, adds further complexity to the tightly contested South American World Cup Qualifiers.
