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Messi-less Argentina held; Brazil, Uruguay win easy
LIMA: Argentina were held 2-2 by Peru in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, their second successive away draw without injured talisman Lionel Messi, which
LIMA: Argentina were held 2-2 by Peru in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, their second successive away draw without injured talisman Lionel Messi, which dropped them to fifth in the South American group.
Defender Ramiro Funes Mori put Argentina ahead after 15 minutes but was responsible for Peru’s late penalty equaliser that was converted by Christian Cueva.
In between, Peru’s veteran striker Paolo Guerrero equalised early in the second half and Gonzalo Higuain restored Argentina’s lead in the 77th minute.
After nine matches, the halfway point in the South American qualifiers, Uruguay top the table with 19 points followed by Brazil on 18 and Ecuador, Colombia and Argentina all on 16. Peru climbed one place to eighth with eight points.
The top four go through to the 2018 finals in Russia while the team in fifth place, currently Argentina on goal difference, qualify for an intercontinental playoff against the Oceania winners for another berth.
Meanwhile, Brazil and Uruguay scored easy victories as Chile lost ground after crashing to defeat in Ecuador.
A virtuoso performance from Barcelona superstar Neymar lay at the heart of Brazil’s 5-0 mauling of Bolivia in Natal, with the striker launching the rout with his 49th international goal.
Neymar set up two more as Brazil produced their most stylish performance of recent memory to rattle in further goals from Gabriel Jesus, Filipe Luis and Liverpool duo Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
Brazil coach Tite, who has now won all three games since taking over from sacked predecessor Dunga, said he had not expected his team to win so impressively.
“I did not expect this,” Tite said. “The team is working very hard for each other. We are trying to play the players in the positions that they play for their clubs. I believe that is helping.”
Uruguay swatted aside winless Venezuela 3-0 in Montevideo while Ecuador won 3-0 against Copa America champions Chile in Quito. World Cup quarterfinalists Colombia snatched a dramatic 1-0 win over Paraguay thanks to a 90th minute strike from Edwin Cardona in Asuncion.
