Brazil rallied for a 2-2 draw against Paraguay with late goals from Ricardo Oliveira and Dani Alves in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
Oliveira scored in the 79th minute and Alves notched the equalizer 90 seconds into stoppage-time to save Brazil from an embarrassing loss.
Dario Lezcano gave Paraguay a deserved 1-0 lead in the 40th, driving a shot over the head of Brazil goalkeeper Alisson.
Photo: Reuters
Edgar Benitez made it 2-0 in the 49th on a perfectly slotted shot after Paraguay sliced up Brazil’s porous defense to get into scoring position.
Brazil played without star striker Neymar and top defender David Luiz, both out with accumulated yellow cards.
Paraguay defeated Brazil the previous time they played, winning 4-3 on penalties in the quarter-finals of last year’s Copa America.
Photo: AFP
Brazil have just nine points from six matches, sitting in sixth position on the table, level with Paraguay on points.
In other South American qualifiers on Tuesday, Uruguay defeated Peru 1-0 to move level with Ecuador, who lost to Colombia 3-1. Uruguay moved to the top of the table with 13 points.
Argentina beat Bolivia 2-0 to move into third with 11 points, while Chile moved into fourth on 10 points with a 4-1 win against Venezuela.
In Cordoba, Argentina, Gabriel Mercado scored in the 19th minute and Barcelona star Lionel Messi made it 2-0 in the 29th on a penalty to lead the hosts to an easy victory. It was Messi’s 50th goal in international play, drawing him closer to the Argentine record of 56 set by Gabriel Batistuta.
Argentina, the 2014 World Cup runners-up, scored only two goals in their first four qualifying matches, but have netted four in their past two matches to show some life.
In Montevideo, Edinson Cavani scored in the 52nd to lift Uruguay to a 1-0 victory over stubborn Peru, who lie eighth in the nine-team competition.
In Barranquilla, Colombia, the hosts defeated Ecuador with two goals from Carlos Bacca in the 14th and 66th minutes.
Sebastian Perez got the other goal for Colombia in the 47th, a spectacular shot as he leaped and swung the ball into the net with his right leg.
Michel Arroyo scored late in the first half for Ecuador, who lost for the first time in six group matches.
Colombia are fifth with 10 points, while Ecuador are level with Uruguay on points, but second on goal-difference.
In Barinas, Venezuela, Romulo Otero gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute, but Copa America champion Chile dominated after that, scoring two goals through Arturo Vidal and two more through Mauricio Pinilla.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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