In an intense South American World Cup qualifying clash, Brazil secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Colombia in Brasília on Thursday, thanks to a last-minute strike from Vinícius Júnior. His goal, which came nine minutes into added time, saved Brazil from what appeared to be their third consecutive 1-1 draw in the qualifying campaign.
The win was crucial for Brazil, lifting them to second place in the South American standings with 21 points. They now sit four points behind leaders Argentina, who have a game in hand, and one point ahead of Uruguay, who also have a match to play. The top six teams from South America will automatically qualify for the World Cup in 2026, set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The seventh-place team will have to go through additional qualifying rounds for a chance at the tournament.
Brazil’s early dominance was evident when they took the lead in the 6th minute. Vinícius Júnior, who was fouled inside the box by Colombia’s Daniel Muñoz, earned Brazil a penalty. Raphinha confidently stepped up to take the spot kick and slotted the ball past Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, giving Brazil an early advantage. However, the hosts struggled to build on their early lead and create meaningful chances.
Although Brazil had the ball for most of the first half, their attack was flat, with an early effort from Rodrygo in the 13th minute sailing wide of the post being their only real scoring opportunity. Colombia, on the other hand, looked dangerous on the counterattack, and it seemed only a matter of time before they found an equalizer.
That moment arrived just before halftime in the 40th minute. A mistake from Brazil’s Joelinton allowed Colombia’s James Rodríguez to intercept the ball just outside the box. Rodríguez quickly passed to Luis Díaz, who fired a precise shot into the bottom right corner of Brazil’s net, leveling the score at 1-1.
The second half saw Brazil come out with renewed vigor. Vinícius Júnior, who had been a constant threat in the first half, forced a fine save from Vargas early on with a powerful strike inside the box. But as the minutes ticked by, Brazil struggled to convert their pressure into goals. The team created several chances, but poor finishing and strong defending from Colombia kept the scoreline even.
Brazil’s manager, Dorival Júnior, watched in frustration from the sidelines as his team missed opportunity after opportunity. It seemed as though they would have to settle for another disappointing draw in the qualifiers. But in the dying moments of the match, Brazil’s persistence finally paid off.
In the 99th minute, with just seconds remaining, Vinícius Júnior once again found himself in a dangerous position. After a quick turn, he unleashed a curling shot from the edge of the box, and this time, it was too much for Vargas to handle. The ball nestled into the back of the net, sending the Brazilian players and fans into raptures. The goal ensured Brazil claimed all three points and avoided another frustrating draw.
The victory was a vital one for Brazil, who now look ahead to their next challenge: a fierce rivalry clash against Argentina on Tuesday. However, they will have to play without two key players. Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães and Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães will both be suspended for the match after picking up yellow cards during the win over Colombia.
As Brazil prepares for the Argentina showdown, the win over Colombia was a testament to their resilience and the individual brilliance of Vinícius Júnior, who has been in superb form this campaign. The victory also provided Brazil with a much-needed confidence boost as they continue their pursuit of automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
With their victory over Colombia, Brazil remains firmly in the hunt for a top spot in South American qualifying, and with more performances like this one, they will be well-positioned to secure their place in next year’s World Cup.
