With Ajax striker Antony in the starting line-up for the first time, Brazil secured first place in the South American qualifying group. The five-time world champion defeated Chile at the Maracaña Stadium in Rio de Janeiro thanks to goals from Neymar (penalty kick), Vinícius Júnior, Philippe Coutinho (penalty) and Richarlison who came in for Antony.
The 22-year-old Ajax player scored the winning goal against Feyenoord (3-2) on Sunday, but was also shown red in injury time as a result of time wasting. Antony left the Johan Cruijff ArenA due to an ankle injury on crutches, but was fit enough for his first base place in the national team on Thursday.
Anger in Peru
There was a lot to do around Uruguay’s victory. Peru is angry about an alleged goal in the 96th. Goalkeeper Sergio Rochet (ex-AZ) grabbed the ball before it had crossed the line, but according to many Peruvians it would have ended up behind the line. However, the arbitration did not award Peru a goal, which meant that it could forget direct qualification for the World Cup.
Canada misses opportunity
The Canadian footballers have missed their first chance to grab a World Cup ticket. The team of national coach John Herdman lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in San José, Canada’s first defeat in this qualification. The North American country has two more chances to qualify for the second time for the global final round, after its World Cup debut in 1986.
Canada had to continue with ten men after half an hour, after Mark-Anthony Kaye was sent off with his second yellow card. Celso Borges scored in the injury time of the first half, leaving Costa Rica with 19 points to continue qualifying directly for the World Cup.
“This is football too,” said Herdman. “We went unbeaten for 17 games, but the football gods weren’t with us today. We don’t look back, we have our destiny in our own hands. We are going to Qatar.”
Canada still tops the table with 25 points from 12 games. The United States and Mexico follow with 22 points. Their mutual duel in Mexico City ended in a draw: 0-0. Ajax midfielder Edson Álvarez played the entire match for Mexico, PSV player Érick Gutiérrez joined the team 10 minutes before the end. Luca de la Torre of Heracles Almelo stayed on the bench with the Americans.
The numbers 1 to 3 of Concacaf, the association for countries from North and Central America and the Caribbean, qualify directly for the World Cup. The number 4 gets a second chance in an intercontinental play-off. Canada can still qualify against Jamaica on Sunday in Toronto, otherwise another chance against Panama will follow three days later.