Reuters
Manus, Sept 7: Neymar’s second half goal gave Brazil a 2-1 victory over Colombia here Tuesday as the five-time World Champions registered their second consecutive win to take the second place in the South American qualifying group for Russia 2018.
The home side got the perfect start at the Arena Amazonia here when Miranda rose after just 80 seconds to head home a corner and score his first goal in 33 appearances for the national side.
Brazil, playing just their second game under new coach Tite, dominated the first half with a high-pace pressing game but struggled to make clear cut chances and paid the price in the 35th minute when Colombia equalised against the run of play.
James Rodriguez floated in a free-kick from 35 yards out and Brazilian defender Marquinhos headed the ball into his own net.
But then the hosts were not to be denied. Neymar took a pass just inside the box with 73 minutes gone and his angled drive was well placed into the far corner to beat Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.
It was his 48th goal in 72 international games and took the Barcelona striker equal to Zico on Brazil’s all-time goal-scoring list.
“We’ve been very consistent the last two games,” said goalkeeper Allison. “We’ve become tougher and we deserve congratulations for taking the lead again after they pegged us back. We reacted well.”
The result lifts Brazil to 15 points, ahead of Argentina, who came from behind to draw 2-2 against bottom-placed team Venezuela, on goal difference. Colombia sit two points behind them in fourth place in the 10-team South American group.
Argentina were without Lionel Messi and it affected them to a great extent. The injuries to striker Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero also did not help much as the visitors fell behind 0-2 at Merida.
Venezuela took the lead after 35 minutes when Malaga livewire Juanpi skipped clear of his marker outside the Argentina area and lashed a shot into the top corner. The Vinotinto held onto the advantage to half time and then doubled their lead on 53 minutes through Salomon Rondon.
But Argentina were not done. They got a goal back through Lucas Pratto and then in the 83rd minute Nicolas Otamendi rose above Venezuelan defenders to head in a wicked whipped-in corner by Angel di Maria and salvage a point for Argentina.
Uruguay, who beat Paraguay 4-0 earlier in the evening, top the table with 16 points. Ecuador remain in fifth after going down 1-2 to Peru in Lima.
The top four qualify automatically for Russia 2018 and the fifth place side goes into an inter-continental play-off with a team from Oceania.
