(R/T) Conmebol WCQ 2026, Round 2
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All on Tue Sep 12 21:48:09 2023
This was the round of called off goals, with four overall. None of them
would have reversed any of the results of the games where they happened, though. Two late game-winning goals, one with a happy ending for the hosts
and the other with a sad one. Brasil and Argentina won away and are now, respectively, on streaks of 37 and 24 games without a loss in a WCQ game.
Bolivia 0-3 Argentina
Easy enough victory for Argentina against a brutish Bolivian team at Estadio Hernando Siles, in La Paz. Argentina was without Messi, who was not named in the matchday squad, but watched the game from the subs bench. Enzo Fernandez scored Argentina's opener at the 30', finishing a play started and then assisted
by Di Maria. Six minutes later he was on the receiving end of a stomp by his namesake Roberto Fernandez, who saw red and left Bolivia with 10 men. Curiously,
first the ref gave a yellow+red, then upon VAR review changed it to a straight red. He changed his decision to the same outcome :-)
Tagliafico headed in the second goal at the 42'. In the second half Argentina slowed down their pace, but Bolivia still barely threatened anything. Nico Gonzalez finished off the hosts adding the third at the 82'. Near the end of the game, Angel Correa, who was wearing Messi's #10, was subbed in. Parts of the crowd were audibly disappointed when they realized that the subbed in #10 was not THE #10.
Ecuador 2-1 Uruguay
Comeback victory for Ecuador at Estadio Casa Blanca, in Quito. The hosts made most of the play, but it was Uruguay who scored first, with Canobbio at 37'. At first half injury time defender Felix Torres headed in the equalizer. Enner Valencia shot wide a penalty called early in the second half, which was an all-colorado duel between him and Uruguayan keeper Sebastien Roche (both play for Internacional), but Felix Torres soon scored again, this time the winner, at 60'.
Venezuela 1-0 Paraguay
VAR taketh, VAR giveth. An even game at Estadio Monumental de Maturín, though one with a slight edge to the hosts. Venezuela had a goal called back by VAR at 77', due to a slight handball by Herrera as he challenged for the ball before shooting. But in injury time already, VAR detected a Paraguayan handball in the
box that no player from either side seemed to have noticed (no one complained at the moment and both sides seemed a little puzzled when the referee paused the game to listen to the cabin refs).
Both decisions were marginal, but correct. Salomón Rondón, Venezuela's all-time
top goalscorer, made no mistake, scoring his 40th goal for the Vinotinto and securing three points for the hosts.
Chile 0-0 Colombia
Honours even at Estadio Monumental de Santiago. Chile had a shot on the post, a goal called off by VAR and forced two very fine saves out of Colombian keeper
Camilo Vargas. Colombia held off their own well and had their breaks, but in the
end are happy to have secured the away point.
Peru 0-1 Brasil
Heartbreaker for Peru at Estadio Nacional de Lima, as they were holding Brasil to a draw until an 89' header by Marquinhos settled matters for the visitors. Brasil had two goals correctly called off due to offsides, on aggregate it took
the VAR robots a mere NINE minutes to finally make up their minds. Though Brasil
was the better side, it was not anywhere as dominant as one would expect, but three points are three points at the end of the day.
Table [points, games, w-d-l, gs-gc, gd, (mi = media inglese)]
1 Brasil 6 2 2 0 0 6-1 5+ (mi +2)
2 Argentina 6 2 2 0 0 4-0 4+ (mi +2)
3 Colombia 4 2 1 1 0 1-0 1+ 0 (mi 0)
4 Uruguay 3 2 1 0 1 4-3 1+ (mi -1)
5 Venezuela 3 2 1 0 1 1-1 0 (mi -1)
-----------------------------
6 Peru 1 2 0 1 1 0-1 1- (mi -3) (head-to-head Paraguay 0-0 Peru)
6 Paraguay 1 2 0 1 1 0-1 1- (mi -3) (head-to-head Paraguay 0-0 Peru) -----------------------------
8 Chile 1 2 0 1 1 1-3 2- (mi -3)
9 Ecuador 0 2 1 0 1 2-2 0 (mi -1) (-3 points penalty)
10 Bolivia 0 2 0 0 2 1-8 7- (mi -4)
Next round to be played on October 12th. In brackets below, the results of these games in the WCQ cycles of 2018/2014/2010/2006/2002/1998 (all the round robin ones so far):
Bolivia - Ecuador (2-3, 2-2, 1-1, 1-3, 1-2, 1-5, 2-0)
This is a rather weak Bolivian team, hosting a decent opponent which they can't
beat in a WCQ match since January 12th, 1997. Bolivia's main weapon, the altitude
of Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, doesn't seem to be enough to bridge the gap
between them and their opponents anymore - plus, this one in particular is used to play in the heights as well. I think it'll be BOL 0-2 ECU. In soph-terms: Bolivia 0.15, draw 0.30, Ecuador 0.55.
Colombia - Uruguay (0-3, 2-2, 4-0, 0-1, 5-0, 1-0, 3-1)
Up for grabs. Uruguay seems to be the better side, but probably won't have it easy at Estadio Metropolitano de Barranquilla. Should be a close one, I'll call it an 1-1 draw. In soph-terms: Colombia 0.35, draw 0.35, Uruguay 0.30.
Argentina - Paraguay (1-1, 0-1, 3-1, 1-1, 0-0, 1-1, 1-1)
Even if the WCQ history of this fixture looks balanced (5 draws and 1 win apiece
since the 1998 qualifiers for matches held in Argentina), presently there is a quality and technical chasm between the two sides. At Estadio Monumental de Nuñez,
Buenos Aires, it's hard not to see a clear victory for the hosts. I'll make it a
2-0. In soph-terms: Argentina 0.85, draw 0.10, Paraguay 0.05
Chile - Peru (2-0, 2-1, 4-2, 2-0, 2-1, 1-1, 4-0)
This one would seem up for grabs too, but Peru hardly walks out of Santiago with
a point. Although Chile have a lot of question marks over themselves, at Estadio
Monumental they should have the edge. My prediction is CHI 2-0 PER. In soph-terms:
Chile 0.70, draw 0.15, Peru 0.15.
Brasil - Venezuela (1-0, 3-1, n/a, 0-0, 3-0, 3-0, n/a)
Clear edge to Brasil on this one, to be played at Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá. I'll
call it BRA 3-0 VEN. In soph-terms: Brasil 0.95, draw 0.05, Venezuela 0.
Best regards,
Lléo
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