Brazil returned to winning ways in South American World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 win over Ecuador on Friday thanks to a first-half goal from Real Madrid striker Rodrygo.
After a run of early defeats in three consecutive qualifying matches, Brazil did just enough to secure the win that lifted the struggling five-time World Cup champions to fourth in the standings with 10 points.
The team is eight points behind leaders Argentina and just two points above sixth-placed Ecuador, the last guaranteed spot for the 2026 finals.
Playing their first match since their disappointing Copa America quarter-final defeat to Uruguay, Brazil produced another lacklustre performance, dominating possession but failing to create clear scoring opportunities throughout the match.
Brazil misplaced many passes and struggled to connect in attack, with no idea how to break through Ecuador’s solid defensive block.
Ecuador were relentless in applying physically aggressive pressure with three hard-working forwards, making the local players uncomfortable in putting the ball into play. Brazil also had almost no space to get into their own box, which forced them to circulate the ball horizontally in their own box and resort to long-range shots.
Brazil’s only two shots on target in the first half came from Rodrygo, who, after hitting the keeper’s hands with an early free kick, was fortunate to open the scoring in the 29th minute. His shot from the edge of the area deflected off a defender and around the keeper, who was on the wrong foot, before hitting the right post and finding the back of the net.
Ecuador almost equalised on the counterattack just before half-time, but defender Gabriel Magalhães deflected Moises Caicedo’s shot with a goal-line save in the final minute.
Brazil were even worse in the second half, with an uninspired Vinicius Jr. managing his only shot on target in an utterly monotonous 45 minutes, with boos greeting the final whistle.
“We needed this win, no matter if it was bad or not. I’m happy with the win and the goal scored, and I hope this helps us improve and progress to the level we want to reach from now on,” Rodrygo told TV Globo.
Brazil will face Paraguay in Asunción on Tuesday, while Ecuador will host Peru in Quito on Monday.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
