Sports Desk //

After Venezuela, Brazil also draws with Uruguay. Despite falling behind, the five-time world champions drew 1-1 with Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier in Salvador. Uruguay took the lead with a great goal from Real Madrid star Federico Valverde in the 55th minute. Uruguay’s net was found in the 7th minute with a great shot from the head of the penalty box by Gerson.

Brazil also dropped to fifth in the South American qualifiers after losing points at home. Brazil, who drew for the third time in 12 matches, has 18 points. Uruguay is second with 20 points after a draw. Today, the reigning world champions Argentina, who defeated Peru 1-0, are on top with 25 points.

It’s not that Brazil played badly against Uruguay. They had 61.5 percent of the ball in the match and took 18 shots. But it cannot be said that they played very well either. Because, out of those 18 shots, only 3 shots were able to be put on the post. Uruguay managed to put 2 shots on the post with 8 shots.

Brazilian star Vinicius had a chance to score early in the match. In the 3rd minute, his right-footed shot from a difficult angle on the right edge went past Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet’s right post. In the 21st minute, Fecundo Pellistri could not put a shot taken from inside the box on Brazil’s post after receiving a pass from Darwin Nunez. 1 minute later, Uruguay left-back Mathias Oliveira’s header also missed the target on the left side of the post. In the 28th and 35th minutes, Brazilian star Rafinha also took shots that blinded the Uruguayan post and missed the target. However, Brazil got the best chance to score in the added time of the first half. Brazil striker Igor Jesus headed a cross from close range from Rafinha. Goalkeeper Rochette saved it with great skill.

Uruguay took the lead 10 minutes into the second half after the break. Uruguayan left winger Maximiliano Araujo pulled the ball from the left edge of the box and passed it to Valverde. Valverde did what he did when he got the ball right at the top of the box. A curling shot with his right foot and a dazzling goal! He has several such goals in his Real Madrid jersey.

However, it can be argued whether Valverde or Gerson’s goal was the best. 7 minutes after Valverde’s goal, a Uruguayan defender headed the cross from the right edge into the box and cleared it. But the ball landed on Gerson’s feet, who was standing right at the top of the box. The Flamengo defender volleyed the ball into the net with a bullet shot from his left foot. His first goal in the Brazilian jersey was memorable.

Rafinha and substitute Luis Henrique wasted two chances for Brazil towards the end of the match. The home crowd booed the rival team at the end of the match at the Fonte Nove Arena. After the match, Rafinha said, “Both were probably for the result of the match. Because we gave our all on the field.” However, whatever Rafinha says, no team would want to end the last match of the year with boos from their fans.

Ecuador beat Colombia 1-0 in another match in Barranquilla to move up to third in the table. They have 19 points from 12 matches. Despite getting 19 points from the same match, Colombia is fourth behind Ecuador on goal difference. The Ecuador-Colombia match ended before the Brazil-Uruguay match.

The top 6 teams in the points table from the South American region will play directly in the World Cup. The seventh team will have to go through the play-off test.

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