Colombia 1-1 Brazil 2018 World Cup qualifier: match report, as it happened, goals
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Colombia 1-1 Brazil: match report
Colombia improved their chances of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia next summer with a valuable point against Brazil in Barranquilla on Tuesday night. They will, however, be watching other results with a beady eye as Argentina and Uruguay breath down their necks.
Brazil, who qualified back in March, played without some of their usual starters as Tite looks beyond his regulars in case he has to deal with injuries next June.
The side he selected was still excellent but Colombia started better. Juan Cuadrado was testing Filipe Luis every time the ball came down the right hand side and James was looking to get involved at every opportunity.
It was the away side who landed the first goal though when a long ball by Dani Alves landed on Neymar's foot and he laid it off to Willian. The wide midfielder made no mistake as he struck beyond Ospina.
That goal came just at the cusp of half-time and Colombia were rocked.
They sorted themselves out in the dressing room at half-time though and were far more proactive than the visitors to start the second period.
Their aggression was rewarded after 56 minutes when James flicked the ball onto Arias and he delivered a cross onto Radamel Falcao's head that he did very well to direct away from Alisson.
Colombia were level and the Barranquilla was a lot louder than it had been. The home side were in their element and used the atmosphere to squeeze Brazil. It nearly worked, but not quite, as Brazil were not in the mode to be bullied regardless of the venue.
They have enough firepower to trouble the very best and that kept the game in the balance. No matter how high Colombia pushed up, Brazil were always willing and capable of pushing back just as hard.
The result suits Argentina and the rest of the chasing pack but Colombia take an important step towards qualification but will feel like the missed a trick with Brazil, maybe just maybe, there for the taking.
Colombia vs Brazil live stream online: as it happened
Colombia vs Brazil live stream online: match preview
With just three round of fixtures remaining in Conmebol qualifying it’s nitty-gritty time for several nations as the hunt for the four automatic tickets to the 2018 World Cup goes down to the wire.
That is not a consideration for Tite’s Canarinha, who have chirped their way to Russia with just a single loss in qualifying so far and lead the table by 11 points. Colombia head a tight pack behind Brazil on 25 points with Uruguay third on 24 and Chile currently in the final automatic berth on 23, ahead of Argentina by a single goal in the differential stakes.
Colombia
José Pekerman’s side have been estranged from the back of the net too often in qualifying to have capitalized on the defensive deficiencies of other nations and the Cafeteros have been outscored by Peru and Ecuador and have managed just one more than rock bottom Venezuela, who held Colombia to a goalless draw in their previous fixture.
Radamel Falcao goes into the game in a purple patch in front of the sticks for his club, the Monaco striker having bagged seven goals in four Ligue 1 games so far this season. Pekerman could do with his star striker carrying that form onto the turf in Baranquilla and will play James Rodríguez, Juan Cuadrado and Miguel Borja behind Falcao to provide the ammunition.
Working in Colombia’s advantage is Brazil’s already qualified status: Tite is likely to make several changes to his line-up to try out some new faces and the home side will be firmly in the driving seat for Russia if they pull a result out of their hat with Paraguay at home and Peru away to come.
Brazil
Tite has been forced into a couple of changes already, with Marcelo suspended and Joao Miranda picking up an injury in the victory over Ecuador. Juventus’ Alex Sandro and Monaco’s Jemerson have been drafted in to cover and Tite is also likely to start with Roberto Firmino in place of Gabriel Jesús and Barcelona midfielder Paulinho coming in for Casemiro.
Thiago Silva is expected to replace Miranda while Atlético full back Filipe Luis is the logical choice to deputize for Marcelo.
Brazil are unbeaten in qualifying since Tite replaced Dunga in 2016 and he will be eager to maintain that run in Baranquilla. It remains to be seen whether Neymar will feature with Pekerman noting in the build-up to the match: “We’ll be happier if he doesn’t play.”
Colombia vs Brazil live online: possible line-ups
Colombia XI: Ospina; Arias, Fabra, Tesillo, Cardona; Aguilar, Sánchez; Cuadrado, Rodríguez, Borja; Falcao.
Coach: José Pekerman
Brazil XI: Alisson; Alves, Silva, Marquinhos, Filipe; Fernandinho, Paulinho, Willian, Neymar, Coutinho; Firmino.
Coach: Tite
Colombia vs Brazil live stream online: selected betting odds
Colombia are 21/10 to beat Brazil with the visitors chalked up at 13/10. In the goal scorer stakes Falcao is the favourite to hit the net first at 7/2 with Firmino at 11/2.