Suspense aplenty as South American competition goes to a wire

THE DAY REPLAYED: Matchday 17 of a South American qualifiers for a 2018 FIFA World Cup Russiaâ„¢ showed once again usually how indeterminate and sparkling a preliminaries can be in this partial of a world. The final 11 mins of a 3 matches played during a same time served adult 5 goals and saw a teams concerned barter positions in a table.

Colombia seemed all though certain to validate for Russia usually to afterwards concur dual late, late goals to Paraguay, a thespian spin of events that now leaves Los Cafeteros with a do-or-die outing to Peru. For their part, Chile changed into a approach subordinate places, forsaken out of them altogether with 3 mins remaining of their compare with Ecuador and afterwards finished a night in third place.

Lionel Messi and Argentina endured an agonising night on that they slipped out of a play-off place, changed behind into it and afterwards finished adult in sixth, a reason for that being their inability to mangle down a plain Peru side, who now occupy a play-off berth.

FIFA.com looks behind on a night that followed a truly thespian script, one that left Uruguay on a verge of gift and guaranteed a play-off place during a really least.

Matchday 17 results
5 October
Bolivia 0-0 Brazil
Venezuela 0-0 Uruguay
Chile 2-1 Ecuador
Colombia 1-2 Paraguay
Argentina 0-0 Peru

Match of a day
Colombia 1-2 Paraguay 

COL: Radamel Falcao 79; PAR: Oscar Cardozo 89, Antonio Sanabria 90

Radamel Falcao’s idea 11 mins from time had a fans merrymaking in a stands during Barranquilla, with formula elsewhere giving Los Cafeteros a practical place during Russia 2018. A lot can occur in 11 minutes, however, as Oscar Cardozo and Antonio Sanabria valid by distinguished late on to overpower a crowd.

Paraguay’s win was their third in 5 visits to Colombia and has put them resolutely in contention. One indicate adrift of a play-off place, a Paraguayans perform Venezuela in their final match, while Colombia will transport to Lima wanting during slightest a draw.

#WCQ | SOUTH AMERICA
Next turn 10 Oct:

pic.twitter.com/B5JwSYLzvF

— #WCQ ⚽️ (@FIFAWorldCup) October 6, 2017

Elsewhere
Argentina’s woes continued during La Bombonera, withdrawal them with a must-win outing to Quito subsequent week. They found space during a reward opposite a well-drilled Peru side, reviving memories of that fatal night in 1969, when La Bicolor secured a pull during Boca Juniors’ home belligerent to hit La Albiceleste out of a using for Mexico 1970, a one and usually time they have unsuccessful to strech a universe finals. The hosts combined chances, though could not put any of them away.

The remaining play on a heart-stopping dusk was supposing by Chile and Ecuador. Eduardo Vargas gave La Roja the lead on 22 minutes, and with Argentina being hold to a draw, they were sitting in a tip four. Renato Ibarra’s equaliser with 8 mins remaining saw Pizzi’s side dump out of a gift places altogether, usually for Alexis Sanchez to cocktail adult with 5 mins remaining to mortar them into third place, an outcome that looked rarely doubtful during a start of a evening.

Though a win in San Cristobal would have cumulative them a place in Russia, Uruguay were in no mood to take nonessential risks. Though they available their top pass-completion rate of a qualifiers (76 per cent), they lacked a slicing corner adult front and staid for a pull that guarantees them a play-off place during a really least. All in all, it was a acceptable night for a immature Venezuela side that continues to collect adult knowledge as it skeleton for a Qatar 2022 qualifiers.

Brazil were hold to a goalless pull in La Paz, where they have unsuccessful to win given 1985. The categorical reason for that was Bolivia screw Carlos Lampe, who denied a robbery visitors with no fewer than 11 saves, a record for this sold subordinate competition. The indicate during slightest stretched Brazil manager Tite’s dominant start to his reign to 11 games, a run finished adult of 9 wins and dual draws.  

Player of a day
Pedro Gallese (Peru)

The Peru screw pennyless a finger in his right palm during a finish of August, an damage that left him in tears. He finished his lapse during La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, and a arise could frequency have left improved for him. Twice Dario Benedetto was put by on idea and twice Gallese denied him, with a screw also operative wonders to keep out a Lucas Biglia expostulate and pulling off a glorious near-post stop to frustrate Alejandro Gomez. A relaxing participation for his defence, a Peru screw helped secure a outcome that now has a republic dreaming.

Did we know?
Paraguay’s late uncover in Colombia was a third time they have won a World Cup qualifier in blocking time and a second time they have finished so opposite Los Cafeteros, a initial carrying come in 1989. La Albirroja also scored an injury-time leader opposite Chile in 2001.

The stat
435 – a series of mins that have now left by given an Argentina actor final scored: Lionel Messi from a chastisement mark opposite Chile. La Albiceleste have given left goalless in 3 games, while their 1-1 pull with Venezuela came pleasantness of a Rolf Feltscher possess goal.

What they said
“We scored again and we got a win that has put us in a improved position, though we’re not there yet. We have to keep on fighting. We need to make one final pull and we’re assured that we can contest with Brazil.”
Chile manager Juan Pizzi

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=10/news=suspense-aplenty-as-south-american-race-goes-to-the-wire-2910712.html