CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying seems like it will be defined on the last day.
Matchday 15 proved this is one of the most difficult zones in the world as Brazil is more of a leader than ever with 36 points and already the only team who advanced to the World Cup next year.
Uruguay and Argentina were supposed to be the main fight, but they tied 0-0 in a disappointing match in Montevideo.
Chile, Colombia and Ecuador failed in their task to reach some points and the qualification still has three of the four automatic places remaining, as well as the intercontinental playoffs spot.
Here’s a look of the five results.
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying: Three Automatic Berths Still Available
— Venezuela 0-0 Colombia —
Colombia edged up to 25 points in a crucial game to persist in second place, just one point ahead of Uruguay.
Venezuela is one of the two teams eliminated and José Pekerman’s team just came out with a draw that helps a little in the race to the World Cup.
Colombia will take on Brazil at Barranquilla on Tuesday September 5, and with three matches still on the calendar, they need to take advantage at the two home game they’ll have.
— Uruguay 0-0 Argentina —
Both teams desperately needed the three points to take a breath. But they ended up with a frustrating result instead.
Uruguay is third with 24 points as Argentina remains in the intercontinental spot with 23 points.
Uruguay visits Paraguay on Matchday 16, while Argentina will take on Venezuela.
— Chile 0-3 Paraguay —
In a poor display, Chile let escape three important points at home. They stayed at 23 points, the same as Argentina but with +2 in goal difference.
Arturo Vidal’s own goal in the 24th minute opened up the scoring. Victor Cáceres reached the net in the 55th minute and Richard Ortíz put in a late goal in second half stoppage time to keep Paraguay’s dreams to go to Russia alive with 21 points and settle in seventh place.
Chile is in desperate need for victories in its next two games because its last match up will be against Brazil at São Paulo.
— Brazil 2-0 Ecuador —
The leader of CONMEBOL didn’t have any problems in putting away Ecuador and extend their dominance in South America.
With 20 points and back in eighth position, Ecuador lost its way and its best hopes is to win its next two games at home.
FC Barcelona’s new singing Paulinho scored in the 69th minute as Phillipe Coutinho, who has not played with Liverpool this season, put in a incredible goal in the 76th minute.
Those two players are set to be club teammates with Coutinho also joining Barcelona.
— Perú 2-1 Bolivia —
Perú made an amazing comeback in these qualifiers. With the victory at home, Ricardo Gareca’s team is now in sixth place with 21 points, just two shy of the intercontinental spot that Argentina has right now.
Two quick goals at the start of second half by Edison Flores (55′) and Christian Cuevas (59′) gave the three points to Perú, who takes on Ecuador at Quito in the next match.
Gilbert Álvarez halved the Peru lead in the 72nd minute but it was not enough for a team already eliminated.
The struggle to finish among the final three automatic berths in CONMEBOL is even more challenging with three games left in World Cup Qualifying.
