Uruguay made the host team Brazil struggle to keep 1 point in the 12th round of the South American World Cup qualifiers.
The highlight match between Brazil and Uruguay took place at the home stadium of Selecao in a lively atmosphere. Right after the opening whistle, Brazil took advantage of their home field advantage and the enthusiastic cheers from the audience to flood into the opponent’s field, creating great pressure. However, the Uruguayan defense maintained its solidity under the command of goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.
Valverde’s masterpiece almost made Brazil lose.
The first half saw Brazil completely dominate the game but unable to break through Uruguay’s tight defence. Notable chances included a Brazilian shot in stoppage time that was brilliantly saved by Rochet. For Uruguay, Federico Valverde’s free kick in the 30th minute almost made a difference, but the ball went wide of the post. The two teams left the pitch with the score 0-0 in a tense match.
The second half started at a faster pace. In the 51st minute, Brazil’s Savinho had a good chance after a breakaway, but his final shot was off target. The surprise came in the 55th minute when Uruguay launched a well-organized attack. Real Madrid midfielder Valverde dribbled skillfully across the penalty area before unleashing a powerful shot that went low and left talented goalkeeper Ederson helpless. This beautiful goal put the visitors ahead.
However, Brazil did not give up easily. In the 62nd minute, Gerson shone with a superb volley from outside the penalty area. From a corner kick, the Uruguayan defender did not clear the ball decisively, creating an opportunity for Gerson to unleash a powerful left-footed shot, pinning the ball into the bottom corner of the goal. Rochet, despite flying as far as he could, could not save the goal.
After the equalizer, Brazil continued to press. In the 77th minute, the home team increased the pressure, continuously deploying the ball on the Uruguayan side. Vinicius attracted attention with his skillful dribbling, but was closely marked by the opposing defense. A series of dangerous opportunities were created but neither side was able to capitalize on them.
In the final minutes, Brazil fought tirelessly for the winning goal. Four minutes of injury time were added but it was not enough to make a difference. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, a true reflection of the efforts of both teams. For Brazil, it was a match of relentless fighting spirit, while Uruguay proved to be a formidable opponent.
With this draw, Brazil has 18 points, temporarily ranked 5th and has not improved its ups and downs, while Mr. Marcelo Bielsa’s team with 20 points, ranked 2nd, almost has a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
Final: 1-1
Scorers: Valverde 55′, Gerson 62′