(Football news) Brazil, who already qualified for the 2022 World Cup drew 1-1 against Ecuador, with this result Ecuador moved a point closer after a bizarre game in Quito. In the first 15 minutes, Ecuador's Alexander Dominguez was sent off after 15 minutes for a dangerous foot first tackle on Matheus Cunha. It was not a game that Dominguez will want to recall. He flopped at an early corner, and from the resulting Phillipe Coutinho cross, Matheus Cunha nodded down and Casemiro forced over the line. With Danilo injured, Emerson Royal was given a chance but instead got his marching orders after 21 minutes for a crude and reckless challenge. Ecuador had threatened most in the air, and had drawn level after 74 minutes when a corner was headed past Alisson by center back Felix Torre. Although the man of the match was probably the always unheralded Fred, who made a number of vital interceptions inside his own penalty area as well as supplying Cunha with the pass that got Dominguez suspended. For Ecuador, it was an important one point as getting a point from this game was a key for the automatic qualification for the World Cup this year as Brazil and Argentina have already crossed the line and it looks like Ecuador are getting closer.

Argentina won 2-1 against the Chileans whose qualification hopes look very bleak and as for Lionel Scaloni's side have now gone 28 games unbeaten and this time they did it without Scaloni. After testing positive for COVID, Argentina's coach stayed behind and former defender Walter Samuel took temporary charge of the team. Lionel Messi was also absent as Argentina packed the midfield, stringing a line of five midfielders behind one center forward Lautaro Martinez. In the first 10 minutes, Angel Di Maria curled home a special goal and then Rodrigo De Paul advanced and fired a shot which Claudio Bravo could only block for Martinez to drill home the rebound to make it 2-1 in the 35 minute. Scores were briefly level when Brereton's header looped over keeper Emanuel Martinez, this was the first time Argentina had conceded in six games. 

With this match Argentina also maintained their unbeaten run in the CONMEBOL qualification table with 32 points as Chile are in a grave situation as they are 7th with only 16 points, with daunting fixtures ahead, making it hard for Chile to reach Qatar. Uruguay grabbed an important 1-0 victory against Paraguay as this was the first victory under new coach Diego Alonso. New coach decided against lining up Suarez and Cavani as he opted for Darwin Nunez, whose mobility and capacity to pull out to the left allowed Suarez to concentrate on leading the attack. In the second half, Godin chipped the ball into the space behind the Paraguayan right back, and Suarez did the rest with a precise left footed finish. Uruguay could have scored more as the game opened up and became stretched out in the heat of the summer night but Paraguay never seriously threatened as now their hopes of qualification have now surely ended. It means that Uruguay will end the night fourth in the table which is also the last automatic qualifying position.They will be down in fifth if there is a winner in Friday's meeting of Colombia and Peru.

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