FORTALEZA, Brazil — A goal from midfielder Willian after just 36 seconds helped five-time World Cup champion Brazil to a welcome 3-1 win over Venezuela in Tuesday’s second round of World Cup 2018 qualifiers.
Another South American heavyweight in Argentina continued to struggle without its talisman Lionel Messi, enduring a frustrating 0-0 away draw against Paraguay in Asuncion. The 2014 World Cup finalist now has just a point after its first two qualifiers.
Brazil’s impressive Willian capitalized on a strong tackle from fellow midfielder Luiz Gustavo to settle the home crowd’s nerves following last week’s 2-0 loss to Chile.
Venezuela, with just one win in 22 previous matches against Brazil, was the ideal opponent for a team playing its first competitive home match since the humiliating 7-1 and 3-0 defeats to Germany and the Netherlands respectively ended its involvement in the 2014 World Cup.
Having seen his teammates spurn several clear chances to extend Brazil’s lead in the first half, Willian scored his second goal on 42 minutes, finding the top corner from the edge of the area.
Ricardo Oliveira, top scorer in Brazil’s domestic league this season with 17 goals for Santos, settled the tie in the 74th minute after a Christian Santos goal for Venezuela had threatened to spoil the atmosphere.
Argentina, which humiliated Paraguay 6-1 in the semifinal of the Copa America in June of this year, could only muster four shots on target during a disappointing display against the same opponent.
Missing both Barcelona star Messi and Sergio Aguero, the goal-scoring burden fell to Carlos Tevez and Angel Di Maria. Both proved wasteful.
In other qualifiers Tuesday, Uruguay shrugged off the continued absence of its suspended strikers, Luiz Suarez and Edison Cavani, to beat Colombia 3-0 in Montevideo.
Despite having just 34 percent of possession, the home side was lethal on the counter attack, scoring with three of its four efforts on target.
Captain Diego Godin opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a flying header; his second goal of the campaign. Diego Rolan made it 2-0 early in the second half before substitute Abel Hernandez fired in to the top corner with two minutes of normal time remaining.
Having scored five goals and conceded none, Uruguay has taken an early lead in the two-year qualification marathon.
Chile forwards Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas scored twice each in a 4-3 win at ten-man Peru.
Ecuador defied torrential rain in Quito to secure its second consecutive victory, beating Bolivia 2-0.
The third round of World Cup 2018 qualifiers begin on Nov. 12, with the Argentina versus Brazil clash in Buenos Aires a day later, now looking like a must-win match for the home side. — Reuters
