Brazil fightback thwarts Argentina – Peru win

This news has been read 6858 times!

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 14, (RTRS): A first half goal from Ezequiel Lavezzi was cancelled out by Lucas Lima in the second period as Brazil escaped with a 1-1 draw against Argentina in Friday’s South American World Cup qualifying match.

The match had originally been scheduled for Thursday but torrential rain in the Argentine capital had forced officials to postpone the game for 24 hours.

Argentina dominated the first half but although Brazil perked up when Douglas Costa replaced Ricardo Oliveira in the second half they would consider themselves lucky to secure a point.

“A draw against Argentina is a good result away from home,” Brazil’s second half substitute Renato Augusto told reporters.

The home side were without strikers Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez, but still had the depth to start the game with Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain and Lavezzi up front.

Their first chance came in the second minute but Higuain could not turn quickly enough to get a shot in after goalkeeper Alisson flapped at a cross.

Two minutes later Brazil were fortunate that no one was on hand to get a touch on Di Maria’s shot that flashed across the face of the goal.

Argentina continued to cause Brazil trouble on both flanks and they finally got the goal they deserved in the 34th minute when Lavezzi stole in between a hesitant David Luiz and Dani Alves to sidefoot home from six yards following a Higuain cross.

Ever Banega almost doubled Argentina’s lead in the second minute of the second half when he slammed a shot off the base of the post after Dani Alves had blocked his first effort.

But it was Brazil that got the important second goal with 58 minutes gone when substitute Douglas Costa’s header came back off the bar and Lucas Lima hammered home the rebound.

The goal boosted Brazil and they enjoyed their best period in the moments after. However, Argentina took charge again as the game wore on and Higuain was unlucky not to get on the end of a cross and make it 2-1.

Brazil had Neymar back after a four-game suspension but the Barcelona striker was largely anonymous and his threat was limited to a couple of long-range shots. David Luiz was sent off with two minutes remaining for a brutal tackle on Lucas Biglia with his foot up.

The result leaves Argentina in eighth place in the 10-team South American group with just two points after having failed to win any of their first three games. Brazil meanwhile, rise to fifth with one win, one draw and one loss.

The top four teams qualify automatically and the fifth placed-side go into a play-off.

Argentina now go to Barranquilla to play Colombia on Tuesday, while Brazil have an easier task at home against Peru.

Peru 1, Paraguay 0

In Lima, a superbly-taken goal by Jefferson Farfan gave Peru their first win of the South American World Cup qualifying campaign as they beat Paraguay 1-0.

Farfan’s first-half strike, in a match which pitted two Argentine coaches against each other, was also the first goal that Paraguay have conceded in the competition.

Peru desperately needed a win after losing their first two games and coach Ricardo Gareca fielded Farfan, Jordy Reyna, veteran Claudio Pizarro and Paolo Guerrero in an ambitious four-man attack.

Guerrero was close to giving Peru an early lead when he ran onto Renato Tapia’s diagonal through ball but fired his effort just wide of the goal.

Peru, who have not qualified for a World Cup since 1982, survived a scare when goalkeeper Diego Penny was caught off his goalline at a corner and Yoshimar Yotun headed the ball off the line.

The hosts broke through in the 20th minute when Guerrero found Farfan completely free on the left and the former Schalke 04 forward controlled the ball and fired a low shot just inside the near post.

Guerrero and Pizarro were both agonisingly close for Peru with headers just before halftime.

Paraguay, who qualified for four World Cups in a row between 1998 and 2010 but missed out on Brazil last year, evened the match up in the second half but did not carry a threat.

“I liked the commitment of the players with the country and the national team because there was a lot at stake and we were facing very difficult opponents,” Gareca told reporters.

Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz said: “I didn’t like our performance and we have to improve, although I liked our attitude.”

The 10-team group, where four teams qualify directly for Russia in 2018 and the fifth plays off against the winners of the Oceania group, is already developing into a highly unpredictable contest, with both Brazil and Argentina having made poor starts.

Ecuador, the only team to have won their opening three matches, lead with nine points, followed by Chile (7) and Uruguay (6). Brazil, Paraguay and Colombia have four each, Peru and Bolivia three, Argentina two and Venezuela are pointless.

This news has been read 6858 times!