FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Argentina defeats Brazil for the third time in a row due to crowd disturbances
FIFA World Cup Qualification: Due to crowd unrest, Argentina defeats Brazil for the third time in a row.
In a hard-fought battle in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium on Tuesday, Argentina defeated their opponents 1-0 to deliver Brazil their third straight setback in FIFA World Cup qualifying.
Kickoff was delayed due to crowd disturbances before the game, which caused disruptions.
Fifa world cup winners
The match was won by Argentina thanks to a header from seasoned defender Nicolas Otamendi in the 63rd minute.
With this victory, the Fifa world cup champions defeated their South American opponents and bounced back from their setback to Uruguay the week before.
Argentina now sits atop the South American qualification rankings after the victory, having collected 15 points from six games. However, after suffering their third loss in the qualifying round, Brazil now sits in sixth place with seven points from six games.
Before kickoff, tensions increased as Brazilian police used batons to scatter Argentine fans.
Emi Martinez, the goalkeeper for Argentina, even tried to face a Brazilian policeman brandishing a baton to defuse the situation.
Argentina’s players, led by Lionel Messi, temporarily fled the field amid the altercations to show that they did not want to play. But in the end, the game started almost half an hour later than expected.
Gabriel Jesus of Brazil was given a yellow card for early confrontations in the game, which had a hot environment.
There were several chances for goals in the first half as both teams committed fouls. A booking was given to Raphinha of Brazil for an arm to Rodrigo De Paul’s face.
Brazil had a better start to the second half, but Giovani Lo Celso‘s corner kick and Otamendi’s header gave Argentina the lead in the sixty-third minute.
The five-time world champions’ night took a turn for the worse in the 82nd minute when substitute Joelinton was sent for a confrontation with De Paul off the ball.
