MONTVIDEO — Argentina and Brazil reignited their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaigns with important victories Tuesday as Copa America champion Chile crashed to defeat in its grudge match with Uruguay.
Two-time World Cup winner Argentina — which had taken just two points from itd first three matches — claimed its first win, downing Colombia 1-0 in Barranquilla, thanks to a first half goal from Lucas Biglia.
Brazil, meanwhile, produced its best performance of the qualifying campaign to date with a 3-0 defeat of Peru in Salvador.
Bayern Munich star Douglas Costa scored one goal and created two others as Brazil swept aside the challenge of the Copa America semifinalists.
In Montevideo, Uruguay gained revenge for its stormy Copa America quarterfinal defeat to Chile earlier this year with a 3-0 win.
The victory pushed Uruguay up to second place in the standings with nine points from four games, three points adrift of surprise early pacesetters Ecuador, which made it four wins out of four Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Venezuela.
Brazil’s victory over Peru left it in third place with seven points, ahead of Paraguay and Chile on goal difference.
Argentina’s win in Colombia lifted it to sixth, just outside the top five qualifying spots.
But the Argentinians will feel confident that it can mount a charge back up the table when qualifiers resume in March, when injured stars Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez should all be fit and available once more.
Five-time champions Brazil had a virtuoso performance from Costa to thank for its win.
The Bayern star opened the scoring with a tap-in on 22 minutes from Willian’s low cross and then turned provider with a jinking run and pass for Renato Augusto for Brazil’s second on 57 minutes.
Brazil’s third came when Costa’s fierce strike was parried away by Peru keeper Diego Penny, leaving a simple finish for Filipe Luis on the rebound.
Ecuador meanwhile lead the standings after extending their 100 percent record against Venezuela (3-0) in Puerto Ordaz — Venezuela’s fourth defeat in as many games.
In the day’s other game, Paraguay defeated Bolivia 2-1 in Asuncion.
T & T holds US to 0-0
The United States were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Trinidad and Tobago Tuesday but the point was enough to keep it top of its World Cup group and on course for a place in the final round of regional qualification.
The draw kept US level on four points with Trinidad and Tobago at the top of Group C, with vastly superior goal difference.
Guatemala continued to pile on the misery for St Vincent with a 4-0 win.
Mexico is also sitting pretty after it beat Honduras 2-0 to record its second win from as many matches under new coach Juan Carlos Osorio.
In other matches, Canada drew 0-0 with El Salvador, Costa Rica beat Panama and Jamaica edged Haiti 1-0. — Agencies
