SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016 Brazil thrash archrivals Argentina Brazil, Uruguay march towards 2018 MONTEVIDEO: Brazil thrashed arch-rivals Argentina to tight- en their grip on South America’s 2018 World Cup qualification campaign on Thursday as Uruguay maintained their push towards the finals with a hard-fought defeat of Ecuador. Barcelona superstar Neymar outshone club-mate Lionel Messi with his 50th international goal for Brazil in Belo Horizonte as the five-time World Cup winners romped to a 3-0 win in the Estadio Mineirao. It was a sweet return to the venue for Brazil, who were humiliated 7-1 at the same ground by Germany in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup. Neymar’s landmark strike was sandwiched by a spectacular effort from Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho and a second-half finish from China-based midfielder Paulinho. The win was a remarkable fifth consecutive qualifying victory under the reign of new coach Tite, who took over following the sacking of Dunga in June after Brazil’s Copa America Centenario debacle, when they failed to advance from the group stage. Brazil now have 24 points from 11 games, one clear of second-placed Uruguay who have 23 points. The Brazilians are six points clear of third-placed Colombia and seven points clear of Ecuador and Chile, who are level on 17 points after 11 games. Argentina meanwhile are languish- ing outside the qualifying places in sixth with 16 points. The two-time world champions-who have taken just two points from their past four qualifiers-now face a crucial game at home to Colombia next Tuesday which they must win to avoid falling further off the pace. “We’re down but we’re still alive,” Argentina captain Messi said. “We have to forget the situation we’re in and start thinking about Colombia. If we get a result against Colombia it will make things look a lot different.” Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza meanwhile admitted he had not expected to lose so heavily. “It’s a hard defeat. I did not think we would lose 3-0, I thought it would be an even BELO HORIZONTE: Argentina’s Lionel Messi (center) is marked by Brazil’s Thiago Silva (right) during their 2018 FIFA game,” Bauza said. “But when they got their second it was all World Cup qualifier football match in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on November 01, 2016. — AFP over.” Uruguay meanwhile stayed firmly on Brazil’s shoulder with a 2-1 defeat of Ecuador at Montevideo’s Estadio Barranquilla. The Chileans, missing injured Arsenal star Alexis In other games, Paraguay suffered a 4-1 mauling against Peru Centenario. Sanchez, needed two superb saves from Bravo to keep in Asuncion to derail their qualification campaign. The Uruguayans took the lead on 12 minutes when former Colombia at bay in a gritty game played in sweltering condi- Paraguay took an early lead through Cristian Riveros after Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates bundled in a corner from tions. But Bravo’s display was tempered by an injury which nine minutes but Peru hit back with second-half goals from close range for his first international goal. Espanyol striker forced the Manchester City goalkeeper off the field midway Christian Ramos, Edison Flores, Christian Cueva and an Edgar Felipe Caicedo then rounded off a sweeping Ecuador counter- through the second half. Benitez own goal to run out convincing winners. Paraguay attack to equalize just before half-time. But Uruguay respond- Bravo had earlier produced two fine blocks to deny Oscar coach Francisco Arce attempted to put a positive spin on his ed immediately, Diego Rolan stabbing home a low finish on Murillo and Miguel Borja as Colombia were struggled to break team’s loss. “We’re still in the race to qualify,” Arce said. “We the stroke of half-time to restore the home side’s lead. the deadlock. Colombia’s Argentinean coach Jose Pekerman don’t think we’re dead, we just need to pick ourselves up and bemoaned a lack of precision in front of goal but was buoyed get on with it,” he added. Paraguay, who are two points out- Injury scare for Bravo by the return of talismanic striker Radamel Falcao, who was side the qualifying positions, face Bolivia away in their next Elsewhere Thursday, Copa America Centenario champions introduced as a half-time substitute. “We tried everything and game. Venezuela meanwhile scored their first win of the quali- Chile had captain and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to thank for a we had chances but we lacked precision,” Pekerman said. “But fiers with a 5-0 thrashing at home to Bolivia, with Josef hard-earned point in a 0-0 draw against Colombia in the most important fact of the game was the return of Falcao.” Martinez scoring a hat-trick. — AFP France elects ‘Diversity of US team’ first woman reflects true America football chief PARIS: French football’s ruling body the Professional COLUMBUS: A day before taking on “The one thing that I am very proud “The diversity on this team is a truly Football League (LFP) yesterday elected their first Mexico in a highly-charged clash, United about is to be part of the US national awesome thing,” said Bedoya who woman president with Nathalie Boy De La Tour win- States midfielder Alejandro Bedoya says team and the diversity that you see on added he did not expect any insults or ning a four-year term. Boy De La Tour who previously the diverse make-up of the national this team - this a true representation of tension between the two sets of sup- held a position with the “Football Foundation” which team is a “true representation of what what America is all about,” said Bedoya. porters at the stadium. “I think everyone promotes the game in the community takes over from America is all about”. The always fiery The American team is coached by brings their passion here. This is what FrÈdÈric Thiriez who resigned last month after 14 World Cup qualifier between the two German Juergen Klinsmann and fea- the beautiful game is all about. Soccer years. Former France coach Raymond Domenech, who countries comes in the week of Donald tures players from a multitude of ethnic has always been a sport that has been had been among the candidates, withdrew from the Trump’s election as US president after a backgrounds. Defenders Omar Gonzalez able to unite many people. I would think running after he was rejected in the first round by the campaign which featured controversial and Michael Orozco are both that everyone comes out here, passion- general assembly. rhetoric from the Republican about ille- Californians from Mexican-American ate as always,” said the winger. “This The LFP which oversees the 40 professional clubs in gal immigrants from Mexico. families, who play for clubs in the Columbus crowd has always been a France’s top two leagues-Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 - has The game also takes place in Ohio, Mexican league. Jermaine Jones, Fabian good pro-American crowd and is the been in crisis since Thiriez’s departure. Divisions one of the rust belt states which helped Johnson, John Brooks, Julian Green and reason why we play these games here. between the top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, deliver victory for Trump in Tuesday’s Timothy Chandler are all from mixed The atmosphere is awesome and one of Lyon and Marseille, and smaller sides flared up in ballot. Florida-born Bedoya, who is of German and African-American parent- kind and that is what people will bring October and the vote for a president could not be tak- Colombian descent, has not hidden his age while likely starting forward Jozy here and hopefully nothing else. There en. Domenech, 64, coached France from 2004 to 2010, opposition to Trump during the cam- Altidore is from a Haitian-American fam- is no need for negative chants from but remains a divisive figure despite a runner-up spot paign and while stressing he didn’t want ily and his strike partner Bobby Wood either side. “People want to politicize in the 2006 World Cup. His term as France coach was the game to be ‘politicized’ offered a was born in Hawaii of Japanese and this game but I don’t think there is a overshadowed by the fiasco at the 2010 World Cup reminder of the make-up of the US team. African-American heritage. need for that,” he said. — AFP and players’ strike in South Africa. — AFP .