Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 07:00• Daniel Cabot Kerkdijk • Last update: 07:20

Brazil is on track to secure a ticket to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The team of national coach Tite won local time in and against Paraguay on Tuesday evening with 0-2. That meant not only the sixth victory in the qualifying phase of CONMEBOL, after as many duels, but also only the first victory of o Seleco on Paraguayan soil since 1985 (!). Argentina follows on six points after a disappointing 2-2 draw in and against Colombia.

Paraguay – Brazil 0-2
Only an early goal from Neymar created the class difference in the first 45 minutes at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Asunción. After preparatory work by Gabriel Jesus towards the left post, the star worked the ball against the ropes from close range: 0-1. Paraguay and Brazil were otherwise completely even. In extra time Richarlison thought he had made it 0-2 beautifully, a nice shot into the top corner after an individual play, but the offside flag had gone up.

In the second half, the pace of the game dropped considerably, but the teams remained close to each other. Ederson was also put to work a few times and Richarlison was again close to a goal. The score was 0-2 in extra time. After a good pass from Neymar, it was Lucas Paquetá who came in for Fred who outsmarted goalkeeper Antony Silva and then worked the ball into the goal. Brazil have won each of the last nine World Cup qualifiers in which Neymar has been accurate.

Colombia – Argentina 2-2
The start of Lionel Scaloni’s team was great: after eight minutes it was already 0-2 in the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Baranquilla. After a free kick by Rodrigo De Paul from the right, Cristian Romero headed the ball behind David Ospina in the third minute: 0-1. Five minutes later, Leandro Paredes went on a good one-two with Lautaro Martínez and he also passed Ospina: 0-2. Martínez and Lionel Messi also had the prospect of a goal in the remainder of the first half.

Colombia, however, came back well after the break. After four minutes, the ball hit the spot when Mateus Uribe received an elbow from Nicolás Otamendi: Luis Muriel sent goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín from eleven meters into the other corner. Sublime goalkeeping by Ospina on a free kick by Messi and a shot by Martínez eventually led in an important point for Colombia. In extra time Miguel Borja escaped the attention of Juan Foyth when Juan Cuadrado passed the ball and the substitute headed the ball behind Marchesín, who was not entirely clear: 2-2. It was the second consecutive draw for the Argentines, after the 1-1 against Chile last Friday.