Not a lot of movement in the qualifying table tonight, the only change really being Ecuador overtaking Uruguay and Colombia for 3rd place. Paraguay remains close to the playoff spot and are joined by Peru in that. Chile's miserable
run continues, now on seven games in a row without a win. Brasil is almost over
the line with absurd advance notice and, like Argentina, is still unbeaten in this cycle.
Uruguay 0-0 Colombia
A tough and somewhat chippy game at Estadio Parque Central, in Montevideo. Uruguay created more scoring chances and even had a goal by Suarez correctly called back by VAR. Colombia almost stole a win at the 71st minute, but Muslera made a great last ditch save on a Zapata effort that could have been better.
In the end the draw wasn't that great a result for either side. Perhaps a little better for Colombia, since they were visitors and on the back foot
for most of the game. Both sides are now on a 6-game unbeaten run in the WCQ, but in both cases it's two wins and four draws.
Paraguay 0-0 Argentina
Quite a number of scoring chances at this game at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, in Asunci||n, more for the albiceleste side than the albirrojo one. Argentina made most of the play and forced several saves out of Anthony
Silva, but Paraguay did scare Emiliano Martinez on some occasions.
I guess Paraguay couldn't hope for much more than this. For both sides,
their situation in the qualifying table remains the same: Argentina solidly 2nd, Paraguay just below the playoff spot.
Venezuela 1-3 Brasil
For 71 minutes an upset was on the cards at Estadio Olimpico de la UCV, in Caracas. Venezuela led Brasil on a goal by Eric Martinez, on the 10th minute, on a header in which he didn't need to take his feet off the ground, after a cross by Soteldo from the right. Brasil had a very sloppy first half and
wasted some easy chances, but generally dominated play and eventually found
its comeback, goals by Marquinhos, a penalty converted by Gabriel Barbosa and
a late injury time clincher by Antony.
Brasil has now 27 points from 9 wins in 9 games. 27 was enough for the playoff spot in every Conmebol WCQ since it became a round robin. 4th place, in the round robin qualifying tournaments with all 10 teams, was at 27 points last time around, and before that it was usually 28 or 30. In practical terms Brasil
is a lock in for Qatar 2022 already, and it's about to become mathematically settled with what possibly is record advance notice.
Ecuador 3-0 Bolivia
Easy enough victory for Ecuador at Estadio Monumental de Guayaquil. The game was finished on a five-minute interval early in the first half, goals by Estrada
on the 13th minute and Enner Valencia on the 16h and 18th. From then on it was game over, as Bolivia never looked like coming back.
Interesting, and probably clever, that Ecuador chose to face Bolivia at sea level
Guayaquil rather than in the altitude of Quito, site of their previous five home
games so far. I mean, what would an altitude of 2800 m mean for an opponent used
to play at 3600?
These goals made of Enner Valencia the historical top goalscorer of the Ecuadoran
national team. Ecuador overtakes Uruguay and Colombia and is now on 3rd place. Peru 2-0 Chile
A chippy Superclasico del Pacifico at Estadio Nacional de Lima. Peru was more incisive and goals on either side of halftime, by Cueva (34th minute) and Pe|#a (62nd) rewarded the better team on the night.
This was Chile's 7th game without a win, the biggest dry run at this moment. They won only one in 10 so far. The golden generation is definitely past it. Meanwhile, Peru draws closer to the playoff spot.
Table [points, games, w-d-l, gs-gc, gd]
1 Brasil 27 9 9 0 0 22 3 19
2 Argentina 19 9 5 4 0 15 6 9
3 Ecuador 16 10 5 1 4 19 11 8
4 Uruguay 16 10 4 4 2 13 10 3
5 Colombia 14 10 3 5 2 16 16 0
6 Paraguay 12 10 2 6 2 9 11 -2
7 Peru 11 10 3 2 5 10 17 -7
8 Chile 7 10 1 4 5 9 14 -5
9 Bolivia 6 10 1 3 6 12 25 -13
10 Venezuela 4 10 1 1 8 6 18 -13
Next round to be played in October 10th. These matches were supposed to be Round 5, the last of the postponed ones still pending. In brackets below,
the results of these games in the WCQ cycles of 2018/2014/2010/2006/2002/1998 (all the round robin
ones so far):
Bolivia - Peru (0-3*, 1-1, 3-0, 1-0, 1-0, 0-0).
Not that easy to call. Bolivia, as usual, counts on the altitude of La Paz
to make things tough for Peru, at Estadio Hernando Siles. Peru is the better side, but historically struggles in La Paz, even if they really need the points
to keep in touch with the qualifying zone. I think it should be a close one and
expect a draw here, say 1-1 (in soph-terms I'd give a slight edge to the hosts:
Bolivia 0.35, draw 0.40, Peru 0.25).
*originally 2-0, awarded 0-3 because Bolivia fielded an inelegible player. Venezuela - Ecuador (1-3, 1-1, 3-1, 3-1, 1-2, 1-1).
Ecuador is on a roll and should have the upper hand here, even as visitor. Plus, getting the points here would be gold for them, as their closest opponents Uruguay and Colombia will have tough games in this round. Venezuela again doesn't look like they'll push for much this time around, unfortunately. Ecuador to win, let's make it a close 1-2 (in soph-terms: Venezuela 0.25, draw 0.30, Ecuador 0.45).
Colombia - Brasil (1-1, n/a, 0-0, 1-2, 0-0, n/a).
Brasil has been sloppy lately, though still seems unstoppable so far. I imagine that Colombia will have their hands full for this one, especially as Neymar should be back in this round. Still, I could see Colombia making things tough for the visitors at Estadio Metropolitano. Last time around, it was on a visit to Barranquilla that Tite dropped points for the first time in the WCQ. And back
then, just like now, Brasil was on a streak of nine wins in a row. Let's make it
a close 1-1 draw (in soph terms: Colombia 0.30, draw 0.35, Brasil 0.35) Argentina - Uruguay (1-0, 3-0, 2-1, 4-2, 2-1, 0-0).
Superclasico and key game of the round. Only three points separate these two teams, both well nested in the qualifying area. I expect a close game at Estadio
Monumental de Nu|#ez. Argentina seems to be on a better moment and should have a slight edge as hosts, it's been a while since Uruguay last found points as visitors in Buenos Aires in the WCQ. But still, a derby is a derby. I think it'll be a draw, 1-1 (in soph-terms, Argentina 0.35, draw 0.35, Uruguay 0.30). Chile - Paraguay (0-3, 2-0, 0-3, 0-1, 3-1, 2-1).
Another difficult one to call. Both Chile as hosts and Paraguay as visitors got 5 points from 4 games thus far. Chile's golden generation definitely seems to be out of fuel, but Paraguay just doesn't seem good enough to take advantage
of that. There is a sense of urgency for both sides: Chile's mission gets harder
and harder as rounds go by, they need to react now or start planning 2026. A Paraguayan win, on the other hand, could make the table very interesting, seeing
as Colombia and Uruguay will have difficult fixtures on this round. But then again, given the two sides add up a total of three wins in their 20 games so far (and two of these over Venezuela), it's hard to see anything other than a draw here. I'll call an 1-1 for the fourth time in this round (in soph-terms: Chile 0.30, draw 0.40, Paraguay 0.30).
--
Ll|-o
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Friday, October 8, 2021 at 6:18:11 AM UTC+1, Ll|-o wrote:

Bolivia - Peru (0-3*, 1-1, 3-0, 1-0, 1-0, 0-0).

Not that easy to call. Bolivia, as usual, counts on the altitude of La Paz to make things tough for Peru, at Estadio Hernando Siles. Peru is the better side, but historically struggles in La Paz, even if they really need the points
to keep in touch with the qualifying zone. I think it should be a close one and
expect a draw here, say 1-1 (in soph-terms I'd give a slight edge to the hosts:
Bolivia 0.35, draw 0.40, Peru 0.25).

*originally 2-0, awarded 0-3 because Bolivia fielded an inelegible player.

I'll go for a 1-1 draw too.

Venezuela - Ecuador (1-3, 1-1, 3-1, 3-1, 1-2, 1-1).

Ecuador is on a roll and should have the upper hand here, even as visitor. Plus, getting the points here would be gold for them, as their closest opponents Uruguay and Colombia will have tough games in this round. Venezuela
again doesn't look like they'll push for much this time around, unfortunately.
Ecuador to win, let's make it a close 1-2 (in soph-terms: Venezuela 0.25, draw
0.30, Ecuador 0.45).

1-3

Colombia - Brasil (1-1, n/a, 0-0, 1-2, 0-0, n/a).

Brasil has been sloppy lately, though still seems unstoppable so far. I imagine
that Colombia will have their hands full for this one, especially as Neymar should be back in this round. Still, I could see Colombia making things tough
for the visitors at Estadio Metropolitano. Last time around, it was on a visit
to Barranquilla that Tite dropped points for the first time in the WCQ. And back
then, just like now, Brasil was on a streak of nine wins in a row. Let's make it
a close 1-1 draw (in soph terms: Colombia 0.30, draw 0.35, Brasil 0.35)

0-1

Argentina - Uruguay (1-0, 3-0, 2-1, 4-2, 2-1, 0-0).

Superclasico and key game of the round. Only three points separate these two teams, both well nested in the qualifying area. I expect a close game at Estadio
Monumental de Nu|#ez. Argentina seems to be on a better moment and should have
a slight edge as hosts, it's been a while since Uruguay last found points as visitors in Buenos Aires in the WCQ. But still, a derby is a derby. I think it'll be a draw, 1-1 (in soph-terms, Argentina 0.35, draw 0.35, Uruguay 0.30).

2-1

Chile - Paraguay (0-3, 2-0, 0-3, 0-1, 3-1, 2-1).

Another difficult one to call. Both Chile as hosts and Paraguay as visitors got 5 points from 4 games thus far. Chile's golden generation definitely seems
to be out of fuel, but Paraguay just doesn't seem good enough to take advantage
of that. There is a sense of urgency for both sides: Chile's mission gets harder
and harder as rounds go by, they need to react now or start planning 2026. A Paraguayan win, on the other hand, could make the table very interesting, seeing
as Colombia and Uruguay will have difficult fixtures on this round. But then again, given the two sides add up a total of three wins in their 20 games so far (and two of these over Venezuela), it's hard to see anything other than a
draw here. I'll call an 1-1 for the fourth time in this round (in soph-terms:
Chile 0.30, draw 0.40, Paraguay 0.30).

2-2

--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)