Brazil has lost points in the South American World Cup qualifying pool for the first time. After nine consecutive victories, the Selection in the night from Sunday to Monday with a 0-0 draw in and against Colombia. Brazil is still well ahead in the group with 28 points from 10 matches, while Colombia is fifth. The top four eventually qualify immediately, but an intercontinental play-off awaits the number five.
Brazil can therefore forget the first place in the FIFA world ranking for the time being. The South American superpower was able to take advantage of the defeats Belgium suffered this week in the final tournament of the Nations League. If Brazil were to beat Colombia and also Uruguay on Thursday night, it would climb from second to first place in the next ranking. For the time being, at least on paper, Belgium remains the best country in the world.
Antony initially had to make do with a place on the bench. The Ajax attacker scored in the night from Thursday to Friday during his thirteen-minute substitute against Venezuela (1-3 win), but was not rewarded with a starting place against Colombia. National coach Tite opted for a three-man vanguard with Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Barbosa and Neymar. At Colombia, Feyenoord tastemaker Luis Sinisterra started on the bench, but like Antony, he would come in later in the game.
Although the first half was devoid of goals, it was certainly entertaining. Both teams had chances to open the score. After three minutes, Yerry Mina missed a good header opportunity after preparatory work by Juan Fernando Quintero, Lucas Paquetá on the other side just wide. Halfway through the second half, goalkeeper Alisson of Brazil had to act after a pooper from Quintero. Shortly after, Antony and Sinisterra were brought in line with their teams.
Fourteen minutes from time, Raphinha was close to the opening goal with a shot from just outside the box, but David Ospina made the save. In a potentially threatening breakout from Colombia, Sinisterra gave a too tight pass to Rafael Borre, which quickly passed the danger. On the other side, Antony thought he could finish from close range after a sharp cross from Raphinha, but Ospina barely prevented his goal. Neymar couldn’t make the difference either. He sent fifteen passes that didn’t arrive, a personal negative record for Brazil in a competitive game, and let the ball jump off the foot in the box at a chance moment.
Ospina SENSATIONAL! ????#EliminatoryNoSporTV pic.twitter.com/ybiXJIVGAd
— SporTV (@SporTV) October 10, 2021
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