We're back in South America, to see the middle part of this marathon group. This is how the teams stood after part 1:
Other than Brazil, who are flying, no-one is particularly standing out. The two P-sides are in trouble of drifting away, but otherwise every team is in quite a close group.
Today we're covering eight more rounds of fixtures, taking us to matchday 16 of 18. So there's a good chance one or more teams will secure their qualification today.
Matchday 9
Peru reignited their campaign with a 2-0 win over Argentina, the goals coming in the 9th and 10th minutes. This was also the scoreline as Brazil eased past Venezuela. Chile and Ecuador shared 3 goals in the first 14 minutes, with Chile leading 2-1. They added another to record a useful win as the sides around them dropped points, as Colombia were pegged back late by a Lucas Viatri strike as they drew 1-1 with Uruguay. Meanwhile, Bolivia and Paraguay played out a goalless draw.
Today we're covering eight more rounds of fixtures, taking us to matchday 16 of 18. So there's a good chance one or more teams will secure their qualification today.
Matchday 9
Peru reignited their campaign with a 2-0 win over Argentina, the goals coming in the 9th and 10th minutes. This was also the scoreline as Brazil eased past Venezuela. Chile and Ecuador shared 3 goals in the first 14 minutes, with Chile leading 2-1. They added another to record a useful win as the sides around them dropped points, as Colombia were pegged back late by a Lucas Viatri strike as they drew 1-1 with Uruguay. Meanwhile, Bolivia and Paraguay played out a goalless draw.
Matchday 10
Argentina had the opportunity to avenge their opening-day defeat to Bolivia. However, the signs were ominous as Bolivia again exploited Argentina's high line to open the scoring through Jorge Pereyra Díaz. Argentina struck back through Nicolás Domínguez, but Bolivia restored their lead and added another late on for an excellent 3-1 win. Brazil looked to be continuing their winning streak as Gabriel "Gabigol" Barbosa put them ahead against Paraguay, but William Mendieta's equaliser earned Paraguay a point and cost Brazil only their second dropped points this campaign. Peru made it two wins on the spin with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador, whilst Chile beat Uruguay by the same scoreline. And Colombia earned a 3-1 away win over Venezuela, despite largely being outplayed.
Argentina had the opportunity to avenge their opening-day defeat to Bolivia. However, the signs were ominous as Bolivia again exploited Argentina's high line to open the scoring through Jorge Pereyra Díaz. Argentina struck back through Nicolás Domínguez, but Bolivia restored their lead and added another late on for an excellent 3-1 win. Brazil looked to be continuing their winning streak as Gabriel "Gabigol" Barbosa put them ahead against Paraguay, but William Mendieta's equaliser earned Paraguay a point and cost Brazil only their second dropped points this campaign. Peru made it two wins on the spin with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador, whilst Chile beat Uruguay by the same scoreline. And Colombia earned a 3-1 away win over Venezuela, despite largely being outplayed.
Matchday 11
Argentina, in another lull, hosted Brazil. They got off to a great start, however, as Lucas Pratto's long shot was added to by Lautaro Acosta's goal. Paolo Guerrero pulled one back, but Lisandro López completed a 3-1 victory. Colombia and Chile were generally evenly-matched in their game, but it was Colombia who took their chances ruthlessly to win 4-1. Ecuador beat Bolivia 2-0 whilst Paraguay came back to draw 1-1 with Venezuela. But the most impressive performance of the round was Peru, who beat fellow 2017 darlings Uruguay 4-0, with 2017 star Irven Avila notching a hat-trick.
Argentina, in another lull, hosted Brazil. They got off to a great start, however, as Lucas Pratto's long shot was added to by Lautaro Acosta's goal. Paolo Guerrero pulled one back, but Lisandro López completed a 3-1 victory. Colombia and Chile were generally evenly-matched in their game, but it was Colombia who took their chances ruthlessly to win 4-1. Ecuador beat Bolivia 2-0 whilst Paraguay came back to draw 1-1 with Venezuela. But the most impressive performance of the round was Peru, who beat fellow 2017 darlings Uruguay 4-0, with 2017 star Irven Avila notching a hat-trick.
Matchday 12
From beating the top team Brazil to losing to the bottom side Paraguay, as Argentina went down 2-0. This was also the score as Peru's remarkable resurgence continued, as they beat Colombia. Uruguay continued to falter as they were outplayed in a 2-1 defeat away to Bolivia, whilst a Cristian Fernández hat-trick earned Venezuela a 3-0 win over Chile, giving their opponents their second successive three-goal defeat. Meanwhile, Ecuador fought back to draw 1-1 with Brazil, meaning the group leaders had now gone three games without a win.
Matchday 13
By now, Argentina are down in 8th. And they fell behind against Venezuela. After having a goal ruled out, Argentina eventually got level through Lisandro, but soon after Venezuela had a penalty. Evelio Hernández couldn't convert, but a 1-1 draw still did Argentina little good. Brazil, meanwhile, got back to winning ways as they beat Uruguay 2-0, whilst Paraguay beat Ecuador by the same scoreline. Chile ended Peru's run of wins with a 1-0 victory, secured by a 7th-minute penalty. The most entertaining game came in Palmira where Colombia hosted Bolivia. The visitors took the lead, which became two, before Colombia pulled one back. Pereyra Díaz restored Bolivia's lead despite heavy Colombia pressure. The hosts again got to within one through Teó Gutiérrez, but couldn't prevent a 3-2 defeat that saw them overtaken in 2nd by Chile.
This set of results meant that Brazil can't finish below 4th, and are therefore the first South American team to qualify for the DWC finals.
From beating the top team Brazil to losing to the bottom side Paraguay, as Argentina went down 2-0. This was also the score as Peru's remarkable resurgence continued, as they beat Colombia. Uruguay continued to falter as they were outplayed in a 2-1 defeat away to Bolivia, whilst a Cristian Fernández hat-trick earned Venezuela a 3-0 win over Chile, giving their opponents their second successive three-goal defeat. Meanwhile, Ecuador fought back to draw 1-1 with Brazil, meaning the group leaders had now gone three games without a win.
Matchday 13
By now, Argentina are down in 8th. And they fell behind against Venezuela. After having a goal ruled out, Argentina eventually got level through Lisandro, but soon after Venezuela had a penalty. Evelio Hernández couldn't convert, but a 1-1 draw still did Argentina little good. Brazil, meanwhile, got back to winning ways as they beat Uruguay 2-0, whilst Paraguay beat Ecuador by the same scoreline. Chile ended Peru's run of wins with a 1-0 victory, secured by a 7th-minute penalty. The most entertaining game came in Palmira where Colombia hosted Bolivia. The visitors took the lead, which became two, before Colombia pulled one back. Pereyra Díaz restored Bolivia's lead despite heavy Colombia pressure. The hosts again got to within one through Teó Gutiérrez, but couldn't prevent a 3-2 defeat that saw them overtaken in 2nd by Chile.
This set of results meant that Brazil can't finish below 4th, and are therefore the first South American team to qualify for the DWC finals.
Matchday 14
Once again, Argentina had to dig themselves out of a hole, as they went behind to Ecuador from the spot. A late, late Fernando Gago tap-in earned them a second successive 1-1 draw. Paraguay have actually been unbeaten for 8 games now, and this went to 9 as they drew 1-1 with Uruguay, whilst there was another draw as Venezuela and Peru played out a very dull 0-0 draw. This meant that the only winners this round were Brazil and Bolivia, as they won 2-0 against Colombia and 2-1 against Chile respectively.
Matchday 15
Argentina vented their frustrations on poor Uruguay, 5-0 a fair reflection of a very one-sided match. Ecuador were also among the goals as they beat Venezuela 3-0. Brazil overcame Chile 2-0 with two fine goals from Fágner and Guerrero. Colombia went down 1-0 to Paraguay, who made it 10 games unbeaten. Meanwhile, Peru and Bolivia played out a scoreless draw.
Once again, Argentina had to dig themselves out of a hole, as they went behind to Ecuador from the spot. A late, late Fernando Gago tap-in earned them a second successive 1-1 draw. Paraguay have actually been unbeaten for 8 games now, and this went to 9 as they drew 1-1 with Uruguay, whilst there was another draw as Venezuela and Peru played out a very dull 0-0 draw. This meant that the only winners this round were Brazil and Bolivia, as they won 2-0 against Colombia and 2-1 against Chile respectively.
Matchday 15
Argentina vented their frustrations on poor Uruguay, 5-0 a fair reflection of a very one-sided match. Ecuador were also among the goals as they beat Venezuela 3-0. Brazil overcame Chile 2-0 with two fine goals from Fágner and Guerrero. Colombia went down 1-0 to Paraguay, who made it 10 games unbeaten. Meanwhile, Peru and Bolivia played out a scoreless draw.
Matchday 16
So to the final round of games today. Brazil claimed a fairly simple 2-0 win over Peru, whilst Argentina claimed a big win as Ángel Romero scored late on to grab a 1-0 win over Colombia. Single goals were also enough for Chile and Venezuela to beat Paraguay (ending their beaten run and Bolivia respectively. Meanwhile, Ecuador and Uruguay played out a keenly contested 1-1 draw.
So, after those eight rounds of games today, this is how the table looks:
So to the final round of games today. Brazil claimed a fairly simple 2-0 win over Peru, whilst Argentina claimed a big win as Ángel Romero scored late on to grab a 1-0 win over Colombia. Single goals were also enough for Chile and Venezuela to beat Paraguay (ending their beaten run and Bolivia respectively. Meanwhile, Ecuador and Uruguay played out a keenly contested 1-1 draw.
So, after those eight rounds of games today, this is how the table looks:
Other than Brazil going through, and Uruguay being out, everything is up for grabs. Argentina somehow have got into a qualification spot with those two wins, whilst Colombia have been on a miserable run of 5 successive defeats to slight right into danger, whilst Peru and Paraguay's good runs aren't enough to compensate for their previous bad form. At the top of the table, Chile are a win away from qualifying, whilst Bolivia are in a good position to seal an unlikely qualification.
The final part of qualifying here will be thrilling, but sadly we'll have to wait a while. Next up we're going to see who the first qualifiers from Asia will be, as we start the first of the two final qualifying groups there.
The final part of qualifying here will be thrilling, but sadly we'll have to wait a while. Next up we're going to see who the first qualifiers from Asia will be, as we start the first of the two final qualifying groups there.