MONTEVIDEO: Uruguay ended Argentina’s 14-match unbeaten streak with a 2-0 victory over the world champions in World Cup qualifiers on Thursday as Luis Diaz scored twice to fire Colombia to an emotional come-from-behind 2-1 win over Brazil.

Defender Ronald Araujo fired Uruguay ahead on 41 minutes with a first time strike from inside the box that was just beyond goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez before Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez made the game safe with an 87th-minute goal on the counterattack to settle a hard-fought clash at the Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires.

It was Lionel Messi and Argentina’s first defeat of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, and their first loss since they were stunned 2-1 by Saudi Arabia at the 2022 finals in Qatar.

“They are a strong and physical team and played with more intensity. We struggled mightily to find ourselves and our game,” Messi told TyC Sports.

“We never felt comfortable, didnt find a way to end up with the ball or the control of the actions, were not able to have long possessions, didnt create chances and played the game that they wanted, in their rhythm. They are a physical team that bring a lot of danger in the counter-attacks and they showed that with the goals they scored.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni meanwhile backed his team to recover in time for next week’s showdown with Brazil.

“There is a very difficult game coming up and we will try to do our best; I think this team has shown plenty of times that it can get out of difficult situations,” Scaloni said.

“We lose and win as a team, and there are times when you have to give credit to the opponent,” Scaloni added. “We can’t think that because we’re world champions, we can’t lose. We are not unbeatable — I’ve said it before and will continue to say it.”

Argentina, who had won all four of their opening qualifiers, remain on top of the standings with 12 points from five matches. Uruguay’s win leaves them in second place on 10 points.

Colombia are third on nine points after Nunez’s Liverpool team-mate Diaz scored two goals in five minutes in Barranquilla, just days after Colombian guerrillas freed his kidnapped father, as Brazil lost their second consecutive qualifier to dropped to fifth place in the standings on Thursday.

Brazil started well and dominated early proceedings, taking the lead in the fourth minute through a strike by Gabriel Martinelli, assisted by Vinicius Jr.’s fine first touch pass.

The jet-heeled Real Madrid winger was forced out due to a thigh injury halfway through the first-half after which the home side slowly took control, roared on by the crowd at the sold-out Metropolitano stadium.

Diaz alone created 10 attempts on target for Colombia, but was denied the equaliser by a string of fine saves from his Liverpool team-mate Alisson, before defensive mistakes helped him net two headers in the 75th and 79th minutes.

Diaz burst into tears as he dedicated the win to his father who was celebrating emotionally in the stands.

Venezuela are fourth in the standings, one point behind Colombia, after they ground out a goalless draw at home with sixth-placed Ecuador, who are one point behind Brazil, who have seven.

Chile and Paraguay remain outside the qualifying spots after a goalless draw in Santiago. Chile’s Argentine coach Eduardo Berizzo resigned after a 0-0 draw that leaves ‘La Roja’ in eighth place, with five points from five games.

The top six teams of the round-robin home-and-away qualifying tournament will earn berths at the expanded 2026 World Cup taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the seventh-placed team goes into a play-off.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2023