Santiago: Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sanchez scored second-half goals as Chile overcame Brazil 2-0 while Ecuador sprang a surprise snatching their first qualifying triumph on Argentinian soil in seven attempts, courtesy of late strikes by Frickson Erazo and Felipe Caicedo in the opening 2018 World Cup qualifying round.
“It’s an important step because Brazil have a great record against us in World Cup qualifiers,” Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli said.
Brazil had been desperate to move on from a disappointing Copa America campaign which followed their humiliating 7-1 drubbing against Germany in last year’s World Cup semi-finals.
But the Brazilians, lacking the creative flair of Neymar, struggled to find a way through a physical Chile side who were fortunate to finish the game with 11 men.
Yet while Argentina and Brazil were left reeling, there were no such problems for Uruguay, who shrugged off the absence of star strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani to score a historic first ever away win over Bolivia in La Paz.
Colombia meanwhile opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win, Teofilo Gutierrez and Edwin Cardona getting the goals in a hardfought victory over Peru in Barranquilla. In other game Uruguay won 2-0 away to Bolivia, Colombia beat Peru 2-0 at home and hosts Venezuela lost 1-0 to Paraguay. (Agencies)
