It is an improvement over seventh, where they started the round. The result was a triumph for Diego Alonso, who had some big decisions to make in regards to the personnel and the shape of the side.
The 4-4-2 has looked tired. He was able to liven it up. Diego Godin is a veteran captain. He was moved to the right side, where he would be protected by Ronald Araujo. Godin had less space to cover because Matias Vecino was in front of him.
Alonso decided against the old firm of Luis and Edinson. The mobility and capacity to pull out to the left of Darwin Nunez allowed him to be replaced by Luis Suarez, who was able to concentrate on leading the attack. The injured Fernando Muslera was replaced by the new goal keeper,Sergio Rochet, as was the left back, Maxi Olivera.
The line up was a declaration of faith and it paid off. Both hit the woodwork in the first half, but they combined for the only goal of the game after the restart. Upfield, Godin, and Suarez all played a part in the goal. The game opened up and became stretched out in the heat of the summer night. But it never threatened to do so. Their hopes of qualification have ended.
With Venezuela at home on Tuesday, Uruguay is back. They had started the night level on points with Chile, and now have a three point lead after the experiment with a first ever competitive home game outside Santiago ended in failure.
The hosts went down to Argentina in the desert. Without Lionel Scaloni, they went 28 games without a loss. Walter Samuel prowled the touchline after the coach stayed behind after testing positive for COVID. With Lionel Messi out, Argentina put a line of five behind Lautaro Martinez.
They had moments of controlled possession, and carried a threat when they were able to play through the suspended trio. Argentina found too much space in front of the defensive line.
Angel Di Maria used it to curl home a special, and then Rodrigo De Paul advanced and fired a shot, which was blocked by the injured and about to be replaced Claudio Bravo, and the rebound was used by Martinez to score. Argentina was often without a ball and was placed under pressure. Brereton attacked from the left, jumping against the smaller Argentine right back Nahuel Molina, who was playing for the country.
The first time Argentina have conceded in six games, scores were briefly level when Brereton's headbutt looped over the keeper. With daunting fixtures ahead, it's hard for Chile to make it to Qatar, and that's because of the three points that was given to them by the end of the game.
Brazil are already there, and the country moved a point closer after a weird game. This match will feature as a quiz question, when was a keeper sent off twice, and still completed the 90 minutes?
The other keeper took a shower. Alexander Dominguez was sent off for a dangerous foot first tackle on Matheus Cunha. It wasn't a game that he would want to remember. He flapped at an early corner, and from the melee that followed Phillipe Coutinho crossed, Matheus Cunha nodded down and Casemiro forced over the line. Right back is a problem position for Brazil. Royal was given a chance because of Danilo's injury. He could have been sent off for throwing an elbow in the first minute, but instead he was given a marching orders after 21 for a crude and reckless challenge.
The veteran Daniel Alves enjoyed himself. There was room for him to cut in and build from deep because both sides sacrificed a player. He was behind some of Brazil's best football, though the man of the match was probably the always unheralded Fred, who made a number of vital intercepts inside his own penalty area as well as supplying Cunha with the pass that got Dominguez suspended.
Alisson won his first reprieve when the referee reduced his red card to a yellow. Brazil's keeper came out of his area to clear with a high kick and caught Enner Valencia with his follow through. Alisson was about to deal with a Valencia penalty that was awarded for a trip by Raphinha.
That one was also taken away by the VAR. It looked as if he wouldn't be able to do anything about the penalty, given that he punched the ball away from Preciado. With no more substitute allowed, an outfielder would have to go in goal. In this case, the VAR ruled that one out as well.
Alisson survived and so does Brazil. After 74 minutes, a corner was headed past Alisson by centre back Felix Torres and the two teams were level. After everyone had recovered from the drama and the effects of the altitude, a draw was probably a fair result.
It was an important one for Ecuador. The plan was to get a point from this game. Brazil and Argentina have already crossed the line.
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