Bielsa breaks curse and makes history: Brilliant Uruguay beats Brazil after 23 years

The Centenario stadium in Montevideo received a South American classic. AND Marcelo Bielsa He gave himself one pleasure: beating the five-time world champions. Without shining, but doing impeccable work, Uruguay beat Brazil 2-0 and is leading the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

After not playing well in Colombia, despite the draw they saved in the always complicated Barranquilla, the Charrúas found their home against a somewhat mixed Scratch, the trigger being the draw with Venezuela in Cuiabá, in a team that remains in the interim for the long term. Fernando Diniz, who at the same time manages Copa Libertadores finalist Fluminense.

The Brazilians entered the field with four attackers: Rodrygo, Neymar, Vinícius and Gabriel Jesús. Nominally, an imposing striker. But the reality is that this remained on paper, because none of them were a differentiating factor in favor of his squad. Generally speaking, it was a stuck match, difficult to start. The ties were from one side to the other. There were no scoring chances in either area. However, the plus was in the Uruguayan order and knowing how to take advantage of the windows found.

In the 42nd minute, Darwin Núñez opened the scoring with a header to the near post from goalkeeper Ederson. As if that wasn’t enough, the situation got complicated during the visit that followed Neymar’s injury. The Al Hilal Saudó man had to be replaced and evacuated on a stretcher, visibly in pain. Richarlison replaced him.

It was a very bad version of Brazil, from a football point of view. The individualities did not generate connections and this gave rise to very few opportunities to harm Rochet’s goal. In the 68th minute, Rodrygo’s free kick hit the crossbar. And a little more. In the 76th minute, the always efficient Nicolás De la Cruz made it 2-0, after an action from Núñez.

Since 2001, Uruguay have not beaten Brazil at home. Loco Bielsa has broken a curse of almost 23 years. Scratch had not lost in a Qualifier since the first date of the process towards Russia 2018, against Chile. At the Nacional, the Red team led by Jorge Sampaoli beat the Dunga team 2-0.

At the Defensores del Chaco stadium, Paraguay achieved its first victory in the qualification process for 2026. The Albirroja needed a good result to stay at the head of the pack of contenders for World Cup places. During Daniel Garnero’s first match at home, The Paraguayans beat Bolivia 1-0, which continues to get complicated.

The Guarani’s task was not easy. The winning goal was only scored in the 69th minute, thanks to Antonio Sanabria, the same one who was allegedly accused of spitting at Lionel Messi in the last match against Argentina, in Buenos Aires.

Note that Paraguay is Chile’s next rival in the Qualifiers. This meeting will take place on November 16, at the Monumental. On this day, Garnero already lost, as striker Adam Bareiro (who plays for San Lorenzo) was suspended due to yellow cards.

In Quito, Ecuador and Colombia were tied scoreless. The café team could very well have left the Ecuadorian capital with three points in their pocket, but they did not succeed. In the second half, Liverpool star Luis Díaz missed a penalty. Strictly speaking, the shot was stopped by Moises Ramírez. And then they denied a Carlos Cuesta goal via VAR.