Argentina, missing their injured captain Lionel Messi, as well as Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala, were always struggling to reproduce the sort of incisive form that accounted for Uruguay in last week’s win. Josef Martinez made it 2-0 in the 52nd.
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But striker Lucas Pratto pulled one back with his maiden goal in his second match for Argentina, putting the visitors’ tails up after a sluggish first hour in the wet in Merida.
Uruguay, fresh off a 1-0 loss to Argentina in their previous qualifier, were on track in the 18th minute at Centenario Stadium in Montevideo when Cavani slotted home from in front of the goal following an assist from Luis Suarez. But Messi had time to rethink everything and came to the decision to return and fight for a trophy with new manager Edgardo Bauza, feeling that it is only a matter of time before the wins something with the South American nation.
Ecuador is fifth in the standings – which would yield a playoff for a berth in Russian Federation 2018 – but does have a game in hand on the top four teams.
The Vinotinto held onto the advantage to halftime and then doubled their lead on 53 minutes with a goal that owed everything to the physicality of Salomon Rondon.
Miranda gave Brazil a 1-0 lead on a quick header in the 2nd.
The home side got the ideal start when Miranda rose after just 80 seconds to head home a corner and score his first goal in 33 appearances for the national side.
James Rodriguez floated in a free kick from 35 yards out and Brazilian defender Marquinhos headed the ball into his own net.
Neymar scored the victor in the 74th minute, firing a ideal left-foot shot into the far corner behind Colombia keeper David Ospina.
It was his 48th goal in 72 global games and takes the Barcelona striker equal to Zico on Brazil’s all-time goal-scoring list. And that’s good! But it probably means that he’ll be getting back super late and with 90 minutes of football under his belt already this week, making him a possible doubt for Tottenham’s league match against Stoke City this Saturday. “We’ve become tougher and we deserve congratulations for taking the lead again after the pegged us back”.
Colombia sit two points behind them in fourth place in the 10-team South American group.
Paraguay stayed on 12 points.
Ecuador remain in fifth after going down 2-1 to Peru in Lima.
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Midfielder Renato Tapia scored in the 78th minute to give Peru its first victory of the qualifying campaign. Chile improved to 11 points and Bolivia moved up to 7.
