Rio de Janeiro: It was contrasting fortunes for the two South American arch rivals in the World Cup qualifying matches played Tuesday. While Brazil playing away in the city of Merida beat Venezuela 2-0, the Argentines without Lionel Messi suffered a 0-1 loss against Paraguay.
Brazil, who were also without suspended striker Neymar went top of the South American qualifying group. The five-time World Cup winners, who were without suspended Barcelona striker Neymar, took just eight minutes to open the scoring with a goal that mixed comedy and beauty.
Venezuela goalkeeper Daniel Hernandez tried to pass the ball to his centre-half 30 yards from goal only for Gabriel Jesus to pounce on the woeful attempt and lift the ball over the keeper from 20 metres with the loveliest of chips.
Brazil controlled the game against a team that had not won in their nine previous qualifiers and they got a second their play deserved after 53 minutes when Willian snuck in at the back post to finish off a low cross from Renato Augusto.
Meanwhile Argentina, lacking the inspiration of injured captain Lionel Messi, suffered a humiliating setback in their World Cup qualifying campaign. Paraguay stunned the twice World Champions with a fast break from deep in their own half, Angel Romero playing the ball into the path of Derlis Gonzalez who beat Sergio Romero with a shot inside the near post in the 18th minute.
The defeat left Argentina, who dropped seven points in three successive matches without Messi, in fifth place in the South American group with 16 points, one point ahead of Paraguay who had never won a qualifier in Argentina before.
Uruguay dropped to second behind Brazil on 20 points after a 2-2 draw against Colombia with Ecuador third on 17.
Argentina could have got back on level terms two minutes into the second half but Paraguay captain Justo Villar saved Sergio Aguero’s weak penalty.
“There are no excuses, we played badly,” Aguero told reporters. “We’ve got to pick ourselves up… turn everything around.”
Left-back Marcos Rojo, one of three men in a makeshift Argentine defence with little or no club action this season, had the ball in the Paraguay net with a free-kick in the second half but the referee ruled it offside. In the first half, Angel Di Maria hit the Paraguay post with a shot across the face of goal.
Ecuador’s Enner Valencia scored twice, including an 89th minute equaliser, when they were a man short as they came from two goals down to draw with Bolivia in La Paz. Midfielder Luis Caicedo was sent off 12 minutes from time for a second booking. Pablo Escobar scored both goals for Bolivia.
Leo returns to Barca training
Barcelona: Lionel Messi returned to training with Barcelona FC here Wednesday following three weeks out with a groin injury. France international defender Samuel Umtiti also joined the Argentine superstar on the pitch according to a statement on the Catalan giants’ website.
“Both Leo Messi and Samuel Umtiti, despite neither yet being declared fit for selection as they battle to recover from injuries, were able to join the rest of the team for the workout,” said the statement accompanied by a photo showing Messi at training.
The statement also said the likes of Spanish internationals Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets had returned following the international break. Pique was in the photo alongside Messi and Brazil’s Neymar.
Messi, 29, tore a muscle in his groin September 21 during the 1-1 draw at home to La Liga title rivals Atletico Madrid.
The returnees provided a welcome boost for Barca who saw Spanish full-back Sergi Roberto and back-up goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen of the Netherlands return from international duty injured. Another full-back, Jordi Alba and Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic are also out.
Barca host Deportivo La Coruna, Saturday before Manchester City visit the Camp Nou next week for a crucial Champions League tie, with the Premier League outfit’s Catalan coach Pep Guardiola returning to the club he led to two European titles during a glorious four-year spell.
Agencies
