In a pivotal day for South American football, Brazil ended their three-game losing streak with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ecuador in the World Cup qualifying match on September 6, 2024. Real Madrid’s Rodrygo scored the decisive goal in the 30th minute, helping Brazil climb to fourth place in the qualifying standings with 10 points.Despite the win, Brazil’s performance was described as unconvincing by some observers. The team dominated possession but struggled to create clear scoring opportunities, particularly in the second half. Brazil’s coach, Dorival Silvestre Junior, acknowledged the importance of the result, stating, ‘It was a great day. We were able to stop the negative run and take a step forward’.The victory puts Brazil eight points behind leaders Argentina but only two points ahead of Ecuador, who currently occupy the sixth and final automatic qualification spot for the 2026 World Cup. Brazil will face Paraguay in their next qualifier on Tuesday, September 10, in Asunción.On the same day, Uruguay’s legendary striker Luis Suárez bid farewell to international football in a frustrating 0-0 draw against Paraguay. Suárez, who had announced his retirement earlier in the week, was unable to add to his impressive tally of 69 international goals in his 143rd and final appearance for Uruguay. Despite dominating possession, Uruguay couldn’t break through Paraguay’s defense, leaving Suárez visibly disappointed in his last match.After the game, an emotional Suárez addressed the crowd at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, saying, ‘Uruguay is bigger than any player. Starting tomorrow, I will be another fan’. The draw keeps Uruguay in second place in the South American standings with 14 points from seven games, four points behind leaders Argentina.In other qualifying matches, Colombia salvaged a 1-1 draw with Peru thanks to a late equalizer from Luis Diaz. The results of these matches have further tightened the race for World Cup qualification in South America, with several teams vying for the six automatic qualification spots for the 2026 tournament.
Key points
- Brazil ended their three-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in World Cup qualifiers.
- Luis Suárez played his final match for Uruguay, which ended in a 0-0 draw against Paraguay.
- The results have tightened the race for World Cup qualification in South America.
Contradictions👾While some sources describe Brazil’s win as crucial and a return to form, others characterize it as unconvincing and dull.
