Brazil loses to Colombia in Luis Díaz’s inspired night – 11/16/2023 – Sport

Brazil lost to Colombia 2-1 on Thursday night (16) playing at the opponent’s home and suffered the second consecutive defeat in the Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. In the previous round, the team had already lost 2 to 0 for Uruguay, in a game marked by a serious injury suffered by striker Neymar.

Scorer of the two Colombian goals, the highlight of the game was striker Luis Díaz, who plays for Liverpool, from England. The English club’s striker has suffered in recent days with the kidnapping of his father, Luis Manuel Diaz, who was held captive for 12 days by the guerrilla group ELN (National Liberation Army). He was released on the 9th and, present at the Metropolitano stadium, in Barranquilla, he effusively celebrated the goals scored by his son against Brazil.

It was the first time that Colombia beat the Brazilian team in a World Cup qualifying game and also the first time that Brazil suffered two consecutive defeats in qualifying matches.

In this Thursday’s match, in the 5th round of the South American qualifiers, Brazil came out ahead. The Brazilian goal came just 3 minutes into the game, from the feet of striker Gabriel Martinelli. In blue, Brazil opened the scoring after a good play by Vinicius Junior, who took the ball with speed through the left half towards the Colombian area, played it to Martinelli, who returned it with his heel and received it back at the edge of the area, for, fallen , hit low and beat goalkeeper Vargas. It was the Arsenal player’s first goal from England with the national team shirt.

Coach Fernando Diniz was unable to count on important players in the match against the Colombians, such as Neymar and Casemiro, who were injured. But he sent a very offensive formation onto the field, with four attackers: Vinicius Junior, Martinelli, Rodrygo and Raphinha.

Without Al Hilal’s striker, the team’s main creative player, the front men constantly returned to the midfield to look for the ball and start attacking moves, in a dull game between midfielders André and Bruno Guimarães.

In the 26th minute of the opening stage, striker Vinicius Junior, who had been the highlight of the Brazilian team in the match, felt an injury to his left leg and was replaced by João Pedro, from English Brighton, who was unable to maintain his leading role.

On the Colombian side, striker Luis Díaz and midfielder James Rodriguez were responsible for creating the main dangerous plays, with the home team exerting greater pressure during much of the first half, but stopping at good saves from goalkeeper Alisson.

Back in the second half, Colombia returned to be more offensive, with striker Sinisterra replacing midfielder Uribe. The home team maintained the pressure and reached the Brazilian goal a few times, until, in the 30th minute, they managed to score goalkeeper Alisson. Receiving a cross from the left, Luis Díaz headed a cross from the edge of the six-yard box and beat the Brazilian goalkeeper and Liverpool teammate.

Soon after, at 33, Dias scored again, again with a header, in a dispute in the Brazilian area against defender Emerson Royal, a negative highlight for the team in the match against Colombia.

For Brazil, Rodrygo, who inherited the number 10 shirt in Neymar’s absence, was the main coordinator of the plays in the second half. When he was replaced in the 20th minute of the final stage by striker Paulinho, from Atlético-MG, Brazil lost its performance and had difficulty reaching the opponent’s goal again. Young Endrick came to replace striker Raphinha, but was also unable to create dangerous plays.

With the defeat, the team fell from third to fifth place in the qualifying table, parking at seven points. In the next match, the team led by Diniz arrives under pressure to face the current world champion Argentina, owned by star Lionel Messi, on Tuesday, the 21st, at Maracanã. Playing in Buenos Aires this Thursday, the Argentine team, leader in the South American qualifiers, lost 2-0 to Uruguay.