Uruguay, Ecuador unlikely CONMEBOL leaders in World Cup qualifying
When the fixtures were drawn for South America's World Cup qualification campaign, it always looked likely that November's third round would feature an early battle for the leadership. And indeed it will. However, that match won't be in Buenos Aires, where Argentina take on Brazil, as the two giants have got off to faltering starts. Instead, first place will be up for grabs in Quito, where Ecuador host Uruguay. These two nations, along with newly crowned continental champions Chile, have won both their matches so far in qualifying and Uruguay, followed by Ecuador, lead the Chileans on goal difference. Few saw this coming. Ecuador, it is worth remembering, were knocked out of June's Copa America in the group phase. Uruguay have been without star strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, both suspended and yet they top the table. Perhaps the surprise sides have been a bit lucky with their early opponents. Both have been up against Bolivia, who over the last two months have been in administrative chaos, giving a lesson in how not to prepare for the qualifiers. Uruguay saw off a Colombia side who appear to have lost their way in the last few months, and who were very flattered by their opening day 2-0 win at home to Peru. While it was the outstanding result in the first two rounds, there was even a little bit of fortune about Ecuador's historic 2-0 triumph away to Argentina. It was fully deserved -- but Argentina without Lionel Messi, and after 20 minutes without Sergio Aguero too, were wide open for the counter-attack -- a weapon Ecuador exploit with pace and proficiency. THE BEST OF ESPN FC- Ames: Dutch self-destruct in qualifying | Heroes & Villains - Hunter: Valencia at crossroads | Laurens: Lass comeback - Cox: Allardyce typical Sunderland | Evans: Klopp pressure - Marcotti: Klopp impresses; Platini must convince; Euros - Delaney: Roman backs Mourinho | Miller: Int'l break woe - Marcotti: FIFA continues to unravel | Blatter, Platini banned - FC TV: Dutch didn't deserve Euros | Bale will never be best - News index | Transfer Talk | Fantasy | FC TV |Podcast | MLS This attacking power has long been evident. Few of the world's fullbacks relish the thought of taking on Jefferson Montero and Luis Antonio Valencia. And there are some emerging diamonds on the team as well, such as the combination of support striker Miller Bolanos and perky little playmaker Juan Cazares, whose combination play effectively won Tuesday's game against Bolivia. Ecuador's problem -- made very plain in the Copa America -- has been a shaky defensive unit. Coach Gustavo Quinteros has worked hard to address the question, looking to squeeze space by placing the defensive and first midfield lines close together. Stiffer tests will come, but Ecuador have already showed their credentials for a place in Russia. Uruguay have, too. Veteran coach Oscar Washington Tabarez makes no pretensions about his plans. He aims for Uruguay to be difficult opponents, to be able to grind out results even when outplayed. What other way exists for a country with such a small population? But he and his staff have also been working hard to maximise the resources available to them. Uruguay have carried out some splendid work at under-20 level, identifying youngsters they think are capable of operating at the highest level, grooming them, giving them confidence, experience and a crash course in their country's footballing identity. On a night like Tuesday, when graduates of the process such as Diego Rolan and Abel Hernandez weigh in with top class goals, it all looks very worthwhile. Not everything, though, has been a surprise in the opening two rounds. On the bottom of the table, yet to pick up a point, are Bolivia and Venezuela, which should not come as a shock. The Bolivians have been courting disaster with recent coaching changes, while Venezuela look like a team which has passed its peak. The defensive unit is in urgent need of rebuilding, and they will struggle to replace the quality of attacking midfielder Juan Arango, who last month announced his retirement from international football.
Defending Copa America champions Chile and Alexis Sanchez opened with a 2-0 win over Brazil.But if poor starts for these two nations are predictable enough, the same does not apply to Peru, who are also looking for their first point. Third place in the Copa America, and some interesting youngsters to go with an experienced forward line, had engendered hopes of a first World Cup appearance since 1982. It may still happen, though after starting with a pair of defeats they will have to do it the hard way. There have been flashes of quality. Peru deserved a draw in the opening day trip to Colombia, where they went down 2-0. And a pulsating Pacific derby at home to Chile could also have ended in something better than a 4-3 loss. Two moments were crucial. One came in the 20th minute, when attacking midfielder Cristian Cueva threw the ball into the face of an opponent and was sent off. The other came a few minutes later. Despite being a man down, Peru fought back after conceding an early goal and were leading 2-1. Then winger Andre Carrillo picked up an injury that left him hobbling. With Peru already down to 10 men, they had to act quickly, and have a substitution prepared. Carrillo had become a passenger. He hobbled off the field after Chile's 41st minute equaliser. The Peru bench, though, were slow to react. By the time they replaced him with Yordi Reyna, three minutes had passed, and Chile had taken advantage of Peru's weakness to score again. In a flash a lead turned into a loss. In a campaign as tight as the South American World Cup qualifiers, such details could turn out to be vital by the time the last ball is kicked in two years' time.
Brazil beat Venezuela, Uruguay cruise past Colombia, Argentina draw
Willian scored twice and Ricardo Oliveira added a third as Brazil beatVenezuela 3-1 to earn their first win in 2018 World Cup qualifying. Brazil lost their opener to Chile 2-0, but Dunga's side bounced back in their second CONMEBOL qualifier. Goals in the first and 42nd minutes from the Chelsea midfielder gave Brazil a 2-0 advantage that they wouldn't let slip away. Christian Santos got the visitors on the scoreboard in the 62nd minute, but it was too little too late against a superior Brazil. Oliviera's 74th-minute header put things to bed for good, as Brazil prepare for their next qualifier, a Nov. 13 match in which the Selecao will visit Argentina.
Angel Di Maria reacts after a missed chance for Argentina in their 0-0 draw with Paraguay.Argentina remain without a win in their qualifying campaign after drawing a blank in Paraguay. Gerardo Martino's men followed up their 2-0 home defeat to Ecuador last week with a 0-0 draw in Asuncion on their travels. A performance that would have left Martino's players frustrated was almost salvaged by a late winner but substitute Paulo Dybala, on his debut, skied a late chance. Argentina were without injured star forwards Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, and it showed.
Ecuador beat Bolivia in a torrential downpour to run their World Cup qualifying record to two wins from two.Ecuador ran their qualifying record to two wins in two tries, following up a Thursday win against Argentina with a win over Bolivia by the same 2-0 scoreline. The Ecuadorians left it late as Miller Bolanos didn't get them on the scoresheet until the 81st minute. Felipe Caicedo added a second goal deep into stoppage time to give his team a little cushion as the clock ran down. The match was played in a torrential downpour and the pitch was covered in water for most of the match. In another matchup of regional powers, Uruguay got the better of Colombia with a 3-0 win in Centenario Stadium. Diego Godin opened the scoring for the home team in the 34th, heading home a cross in from Carlos Sanchez following a corner kick. Diego Rolan and Abel Hernandez added second half goals, as Uruguay eased to the victory. Injured James Rodriguez did not play for Colombia, while Juan Cuadrado was sent off in the 93rd minute, but by then the match was in hand for Uruguay. Hosts Peru will likely feel hard done after suffering a 4-3 defeat at the hands of defending Copa America champions Chile. A Jefferson Farfan double was cancelled out by a pair of braces from Chile's Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas. Sanchez got Chile on the board first in the seventh, minute only for Peru to score twice and then Chile to do the same to make it 3-2 at halftime. Chile went up 4-2 with a second from Vargas, making the injury time goal from Paolo Guerrero meaningless.