Brazil Qualifies For Qatar 2022 World Cup
Brazil beat Colombia 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Sao Paulo to become the first South American team to qualify for Qatar 2022.
The result means Brazil top the 10-team South American group with 34 points from 12 games, nine clear of second-placed Argentina. The top four teams qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 and the fifth-placed side goes into an inter-regional playoff.
Lucas Paqueta got the vital goal 72 minutes into the match with a shot that goalkeeper David Ospina got a hand to but could not stop.
“Colombia sometimes play it very tight so we needed to use all the tools we had at our disposal,” Brazilian defender Marquinhos said.
“Our team was intelligent and we were able to take advantage of spaces when they opened up in the second half and so create more chances.”
The win extended Brazil’s home run in the qualifiers to 11 consecutive victories, a record in the South American region. The game also marked their 10th consecutive home qualifier without conceding a goal, another record.
The match in Sao Paulo was a feisty one with neither side imposing themselves in a physical game on a rainy surface that produced 44 fouls and seven yellow cards.
CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier results
Paraguay 0-1 Chile
Brazil 1-0 Colombia
Peru 3-0 Bolivia
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
