FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Home teams stumble, Neymar helps Brazil to get perfect six | Match Report

New Delhi: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifying built further momentum in South America on Tuesday with a third of the matches now having been played in the CONMEBOL region.

Brazil maintained their perfect start to World Cup qualifying with a 2-0 win over Paraguay as second-placed Colombia denied Argentina with an injury-time equaliser. Peru finally got a win, triumphing on the road in Ecuador, while two other draws added to an already congested mid-table.

Brazil had not beaten Paraguay away from home since 1985 but Neymar’s early goal in the game gained the momentum for the team.

Brazil won 2-0 in Paraguay. These goals secured a sixth win in as many qualifiers for the five-time world champions and ended Paraguay’s unbeaten start. Paraguay were unbeaten in five games in the South American qualifiers but rarely threatened the visitors.

Na última vitória da #SeleçãoBrasileira contra o Paraguai, Neymar marcou esse golaço. Vale rever para entrar no clima do jogão de logo mais!

?? x ?? – 21h30 | #BRAxPAR #Eliminatórias pic.twitter.com/nBfVQabEpj

— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) June 8, 2021

“It was a game where we scored early in the first half and that really settled us down and allowed us to play the ball about and Paraguay had to chase the game and we killed it right at the end,” said defender Marquinhos.

“We knew how hard it is to come here,” Marquinhos said. “We’re delighted to open up a gap with the second placed team in the table.”

South America results (All matches)

Ecuador 1-2 Peru
Venezuela 0-0 Uruguay
Colombia 2-2 Argentina
Paraguay 0-2 Brazil
Chile 1-1 Bolivia

There was high drama in Barranquilla, meanwhile, as Colombia mounted a stunning comeback to share the spoils with Argentina. Down 2-0 at half-time, the home side pulled a goal back after the break and Miguel Borja headed an equaliser with 94 minutes on the clock.

Out-of-form Peru finally kick-started their campaign with an unlikely 2-1 victory in Ecuador. Without a win in their last seven CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, and against a side who had score ten goals in just two matches at home, Peru looked to be clear underdogs. Despite upsetting the odds to triumph, Peru are still anchored at the bottom of the table behind Venezuela on goal difference.

Defending a proud home record, Venezuela could only manage a scoreless draw against the visiting Uruguay, who are now fourth. Mid-table pair Chile and Bolivia rounded out the day with a 1-1 draw in Santiago.