Brazil stay perfect, Uruguay and Chile victorious

Roberto Firmino, Marquinhos and Thiago Silva of Brazil celebrate after a match between Brazil and Venezuela 

  • Matchday 3 of South American qualifying for Qatar 2022 concluded on Friday
  • Firmino goal saw Brazil edge Venezuela and make it three wins from three
  • Vidal starred in Chile’s win over Peru, Uruguay won convincingly in Colombia

Brazil edged Venezuela thanks to a Roberto Firmino goal, which saw them remain as the only team in South America with a perfect record after three matches in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifying, while Uruguay and Chile both put up a valuable three points on the board after wins over Colombia and Peru respectively.

Venezuela put in a valiant performance in Sao Paulo but ultimately came up empty handed as Firmino capitalised on La Vinotinto‘s failure to clear a cross following superb build-up play by Tite’s men and stabbed home from close range. Brazil’s 100-per-cent record remained in tact, while Venezuela join Bolivia as the only two teams left in the region still in search of their first points.

Earlier in the day, Uruguay bounced back from their defeat by Ecuador last time out and dispatched of Colombia with a convincing 3-0 win thanks to goals from Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez and Darwin Nunez to give Oscar Tabarez his 100th win as Uruguay head coach. Arturo Vidal scored a first-half brace – the first a wonder goal from outside the penalty box hit into the top corner – and led Chile to a 2-0 victory over Peru in Santiago which saw them record their first win of the campaign.

Relive how another exhilarating day of World Cup qualifying in South America unfolded.

Did you know?

  • Suarez (63 goals) went outright fourth on South America’s all-time leading marksmen, outranking Ronaldo (62 goals). The 33-year-old is only one goal shy of Neymar, with Lionel Messi (71) and Pele (77) out in front.
  • The win was Oscar Tabarez’s 100th as head coach of Uruguay.
  • Cavani has now scored 16 goals in 39 World Cup qualifiers.
  • Suarez became the first South American in history to score 25 goals in World Cup qualifying.
  • Uruguay inflicted Colombia’s heaviest home defeat in a competitive match in 82 years.

FT: Colombia 0-3 Uruguay

Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez were both on target as Uruguay won 3-0 in Colombia to storm on to six points from a possible nine in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifying. Los Cafeteros have four points from three games after their heaviest home defeat to La Celeste in the World Cup preliminaries.

Cavani was heavily involved from the outset, and just five minutes in he got his reward with his 51st international goal, becoming just the seventh South American to surpass 50 international goals (see full chart below). Nahitan Nandez did brilliantly to rob possession and tee up the Manchester United man, who finished assuredly.

Colombia, and James Rodriguez, responded positively. The Everton man unleashed a shot from distance that went just wide. Cavani almost doubled Uruguay’s lead from a David Ospina parry, but the Colombia goalkeeper made a fine save.

Colombia 0-3 Uruguay (Qatar 2022 qualifying)

Colombia's Johan Mojica vies for the ball with Edinson Cavani of Uruguay 
Players of Colombia stand during the national anthem
James Rodriguez of Colombia gestures 
Nahitan Nandez of Uruguay fights for the ball with Johan Mojica of Colombia – South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022
Edinson Cavani of Uruguay celebrates after scoring - Colombia v Uruguay – South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022
Players of Uruguay stand during the national anthem
Colombia v Uruguay – South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022
Luis Suarez of Uruguay celebrates with teammates after scoring
Colombia v Uruguay – South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022
Darwin Nuñez of Uruguay celebrates – Colombia v Uruguay – South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022

Rodriguez then did well to feed Johan Mojica, whose cross was almost turned into his own net by Lucas Torreira, but Uruguay survived.

Colombia were quickly into their rhythm in the second half, and Duvan Zapata came close to heading home a Juan Cuadrado cross. However, moments later Luiz Suarez won and scored a penalty, sending Ospina the wrong way, to put Uruguay 2-0 up.

Los Cafeteros dominated possession thereafter, but struggled to break down a defence led by Diego Godin and after 73 minutes, Uruguay put the result out of sight. Darwin Nunez received the ball from Torreira and buried it in the bottom corner from outside the box.

Uruguay, with one eye on Brazil on Tuesday, withdrew Suarez and then Cavani, and in injury time Yerry Mina was sent off for a second yellow card.

Did you know?

  • Arturo Vidal’s wonder goal made him one of very few box-to-box midfielders in the world to register 30 international goals.
  • Chile have won five of their last six World Cup qualifiers against Peru.
  • Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo became the first player in Chile’s history to play in 50 World Cup qualifiers.
  • Peru have never won a World Cup qualifier away to Chile, losing eight and drawing two.
  • Chile are fifth in South America and 17th overall on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Peru are sixth and 24th respectively.

FT: Chile 2-0 Peru

The game quickly swung from end to end. Arturo Vidal’s volley following a right-wing free-kick was blocked when it was heading for goal.

Nobody was stopping his next effort. From almost 30 yards, the veteran midfielder found the top corner with a stunning strike to put Chile ahead. Eleven minutes before half-time, Vidal doubled the hosts’ lead with an opportunistic goal.

On the stroke of half-time, Andre Carillo slipped Raul Ruidiaz through on goal, but Claudio Bravo made a superb save with his leg to keep the two-goal lead intact.

Bravo then made a fine save from Lapadula ten minutes into the second half and ultimately saw Chile through to record their first victory of their Qatar 2022 qualifying campaign.

Chile-Peru (Qatar 2022 qualifying)

Arturo Vidal of Chile greets the referees prior to a match between Chile and Peru 
Paulo Di­az of Chile fights for the ball with Raul Ruidi­az of Peru
Yoshimar Yotun of Peru controls the ball as Arturo Vidal of Chile looks on
Felipe Mora of Chile fights for the ball with Miguel Araujo of Peru
Jean Beausejour of Chile fights for the ball with Andre Carrillo of Peru 
Erick Pulgar of Chile fights for the ball with Yoshimar Yotun of Peru
Fabian Orellana of Chile controls the ball 
Arturo Vidal of Chile scores the opening goal against Peru
Arturo Vidal of Chile celebrates after scoring the first goal 
Arturo Vidal of Chile celebrates scoring
Arturo Vidal of Chile celebrates with team-mates after scoring the first goal
Arturo Vidal of Chile celebrates with team-mate Erick Pulgar after scoring the second goal
Reinaldo Rueda head coach of Chile wearing a protective mask
Ricardo Gareca head coach of Peru looks on 
Felipe Mora of Chile is fouled by Luis Advi­ncula of Peru

Did you know?

  • Without Neymar, Everton Ribeiro wore the hallowed Brazil No10 shirt.
  • Thiago Silva captained Brazil for the 33rd time. The 36-year-old played his 92nd international, taking him level with Kaka as the country’s joint-13th most-capped player.
  • Brazil have now won 16 and drawn one of their 17 World Cup qualifiers with Venezuela, scoring 63 goals and conceding just one in the process.
  • Venezuela goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez is merely 1.75m tall. The 22-year-old, who produced some breathtaking saves and became the first goalkeeper to score at a FIFA U-20 World Cup™ at Korea Republic 2017, already has 24 senior caps to his name.
  • Venezuela reached their highest-ever position on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – 25th – in November 2019. They are currently 28th, above the likes of African champions Algeria, Serbia, Russia and regional rivals Paraguay, Ecuador and Bolivia.
  • Four members of Jose Peseiro’s squad are presently playing their club football in Brazil. Romulo Otero, Yeferson Soteldo, Jefferson Savarino and 20-year-old Jan Carlos Hurtado are at Corinthians, Santos, Atletico Mineiro and Bragantino respectively.

FT: Brazil 1-0 Venezuela

It was a real David and Goliath scenario in Sao Paulo as the most decorated World Cup winners took on the only South American nation yet to qualify for the world finals. Richarlison, Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus led the line for Tite.

The Everton star missed a sitter midway through the first half, a chance that was created by his team-mate who represents the red half of Merseyside, Firmino. The sides went into the dressing rooms at half-time goalless.

It would be the Liverpool man, Firmino, who ultimately found the breakthrough goal for Brazil, finishing off a brilliant team move with a close-range finish after Venezuela failed to clear their lines.

Brazil make it three wins from three and are the only team in the region to star the Qatar 2022 qualifying campaign with three wins.

Brazil 1-0 Venezuela (Qatar 2022 Qualifying)

Players of Brazil line up before a match against Venezuela
Venezuela line up before their World Cup qualifier with Brazil
Players of Brazil huddle before a match between Brazil and Venezuela
Mascot Canarinho cheers from the empty stand 
Brazil v Venezuela – South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022
Wuilker Farinez of Venezuela fights for the ball with Thiago Silva of Brazil 
Tite coach of Brazil looks on during a match between Brazil and Venezuela
Richarlison of Brazil reacts after missing a chance
Tomas Rincon of Venezuela fights for the ball with Allan of Brazil
Marquinhos of Brazil wipes sweat with his jersey
Richarlison of Brazil controls the ball 
Yeferson Soteldo of Venezuela heads the ball
Yordan Osorio of Venezuela fights for the ball with Everton Ribeiro of Brazil
Brazil celebrate Roberto Firmino's opening goal
Roberto Firmino of Brazil celebrates after scoring the first goal 

South America’s top international scorers

Updated after Friday’s matches.

Colombia v Uruguay - South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022

Quotes

“So, so, so, so much. Much more than you can imagine. I’ve won the Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the Premier League. [The World Cup] is what’s missing for me.”
Firmino to FIFA.com on how much he wants to win Qatar 2022

“I know we’re going to qualify, I’m absolutely certain. I say that from the heart, just as I said it after the opening game of the previous qualifiers.”
Renato Tapia to FIFA.com

“It’s my trademark! Of course I’ve imagined doing the pigeon dance in the World Cup. The supporters really like it, it especially appeals to kids. I’ve done it for the Seleção together with Neymar, I do it for my club, and I want to score goals and do it many times at the 2022 World Cup.”
Richarlison to FIFA.com

“Imagining myself helping Venezuela qualify for their first World Cup gives me goosebumps. I couldn’t put a price on that. It would be the ultimate.”
Rolf Feltscher

“It was a mix of sentiments. The explosion of happiness to make my World Cup debut, to live through the atmosphere at a World Cup. And then the frustration of the two injuries that ruled me out of games. Having that experience, and being ruled out of games when I was desperate to play, has made me want to be at the next World Cup even more.”
Danilo to FIFA.com on Russia 2018

World Cup participations

Next up

Tuesday 17 November

Ecuador-Colombia (16:00 local time)
Venezuela-Chile (17:00 local time)
Uruguay-Brazil (20:00 local time)
Paraguay-Bolivia (20:00 local time)
Peru-Argentina (19:30 local time)

You can follow all five matches on FIFA.com.

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