By Samindra Kunti
October 14 – Neymar moved past Ronaldo to become the second highest all-time goal scorer in the Brazil shirt after scoring a hat-trick in a 4-2 World Cup qualifying win against Peru. In La Paz, Argentina laboured to a 2-1 victory over Bolivia to maintain a perfect record.
Neymar’s goals took him to 64 goals in the yellow shirt in 104 international appearances, two more than Ronaldo but behind Pele’s record of 77 goals in 99 appearances.
Brazil travelled to Lima high on confidence after a comprehensive 5-0 win against Bolivia last weekend, but Peru provided a sterner test. The visitors dominated position and Neymar scored twice from the penalty spot before wrapping up victory in injury time. Both Carlos Caceda and Carlos Zambrano were sent off for the hosts.
“Each historic moment, each generation of the Seleção has its own values,” said Brazil coach Tite in a news conference after the match.
“The Seleção has Ronaldo Fenômeno. Rivaldo, Romário, Bebeto, each one had his own moment. It is unfair to make comparisons. What I can say is that Neymar has this unpredictability. He is the player for the assist and the finish as well. [He is getting] Better and better and with an increasing degree of maturity.”
Brazilians almost missed out on the match after TV Globo failed to reach a deal with Mediapro to broadcast the game on its open channel and SporTV. Mediapro demanded $20 million for the broadcast of Brazil’s away games in the World Cup qualifiers, a figure the broadcaster refused to meet. At the last minute the CBF sealed a deal to allow the match to be broadcast free to air with TV Brasil. At various times during the match, commentator Andre Marques extended an on-air ‘hug’ to Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro watched the five-times world champions move to the top the South American qualifying group together with Argentina, who struggled to victory at the altitude of La Paz.
At 3,600 meters, the altitude of the Bolivian capital always represents a huge challenge for away teams and it was no different on Tuesday when Lionel Scaloni and Argentina visited.
The hosts took a deserved lead in the 24th minute when Marcelo Moreno headed a cross from Alejandro Chumacero expertly past Franco Armani, but the Bolivians failed to maintain their intensity and front-foot football, allowing Argentina gradually to restore parity in the match. Just before the break Lautaro Martinez scored a freak-goal to equalize. In the second half, a goal from substitute Angel Correa was enough for Argentina to secure the three points.
Elsewhere, Paraguay won 1-0 away to Venezuela thanks to a first-half goal from Gaston Gimenez to climb to third in the table, alongside Colombia who drew 2-2 against Chile in Santiago. Ecuador registered their first points of the qualifying campaign with an impressive 4-2 win over Uruguay.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713273541labto1713273541ofdlr1713273541owedi1713273541sni@o1713273541fni1713273541