Football

Argentina and Brazil, the South American powerhouses, faced contrasting fortunes in their World Cup qualifying matches on Tuesday. Argentina secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Peru, while Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay.Argentina's triumph was courtesy of a stunning volley from Lautaro Martinez in the first half. Lionel Messi provided the assist with a pinpoint cross, and Martinez unleashed a thunderous left-footed shot past Peru's goalkeeper. Despite a lackluster performance, Argentina's victory solidifies their position at the top of the CONMEBOL standings.Brazil, on the other hand, struggled against Uruguay in Salvador. Federico Valverde gave Uruguay the lead in the 55th minute with a clinical finish. However, Brazil responded quickly, with Gerson equalizing seven minutes later with a well-taken volley. Despite Brazil's dominance, they were unable to find a winning goal, leaving them in fifth place in the standings.Colombia suffered an upset at home, losing 1-0 to Ecuador. Enner Valencia scored the only goal of the match in the seventh minute, stunning the Colombian crowd. Colombia's Jhon Cordoba missed a golden opportunity to equalize, and Ecuador held on to their lead despite being reduced to 10 men after Piero Hincapie was sent off in the 34th minute.Paraguay and Bolivia played out a thrilling 2-2 draw. Bolivia took the lead twice, but Paraguay fought back each time. Miguel Almiron equalized for Paraguay in the 71st minute, and Julio Enciso secured a point in stoppage time with a magnificent solo effort.Chile boosted their faint hopes of qualifying for the World Cup with a 4-2 victory over Venezuela. The win leaves Chile in ninth place, but they have a lot of work to do to secure one of the six automatic qualification spots.

Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Vinicius Júnior endured frustrating nights in South American World Cup qualifying on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Messi's Argentina suffered a 2-1 defeat at Paraguay, while Vinicius Júnior missed a second-half penalty as Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw at Venezuela.Argentina remains atop the 10-team round-robin competition with 22 points from 11 matches, while Brazil is provisionally in third place with 17 points. Ecuador also played on Thursday, beating Bolivia 4-0 to stay in fifth place with 16 points.In Asuncion, Paraguay, Messi had few opportunities to touch the ball in the first half. However, Argentina took the lead in the 11th minute through Lautaro Martínez's crossed shot. Paraguay equalized with a bicycle kick by Antonio Sanabria in the 19th minute, and Omar Alderete scored the winner with a header in the 47th minute.Messi was visibly frustrated with the officiating, particularly after Alderete was not sent off for his aggressive tackles. "We came to a hard place where the national team always struggled," said Martínez. "We have to correct a lot of things we did wrong in this match, but generally speaking we are playing well. We are still in the lead, and we have to look forward."In Maturin, Venezuela, Vinicius Júnior is still without a goal in six matches of World Cup qualifying. He had the chance to score a potential winner after earning a penalty in the 67th minute, but his low spot kick was saved by goalkeeper Rafael Romo.Brazil had the best chances in the first half, with Vinicius hitting the post once after dribbling past three Venezuelans. Raphinha opened the scoring from a free kick in the 43rd minute, but Venezuela equalized through Telasco Segovia in the 46th minute.Venezuela was reduced to 10 men in the 89th minute after Alexander Gonzalez was sent off for hitting both Gabriel Martinelli and Vinicius Júnior in the face. The irrigation system then came on two minutes before the final whistle at the Monumental Stadium, angering Brazil players."When we don't win I leave the pitch a bit disappointed, we deserved to win this one," said Raphinha. "But it is an important point playing away, we are working hard to win the next one at home."

Former Brazil Defender Ze Carlos Passes Away at 56Former Brazil full-back Ze Carlos, a member of the 1998 World Cup runner-up squad, has passed away at the age of 56. The cause of death has not been officially disclosed, but local media reports suggest it was due to cardiac arrest.Ze Carlos, born Jose Carlos de Almeida, played for Sao Paulo from 1997 to 1999. He was a surprise inclusion in the 1998 World Cup squad, replacing Flavio Conceicao. Despite being uncapped at the time, he made his international debut in the semi-final against the Netherlands, replacing the suspended Cafu. Brazil won the match on penalties, but Ze Carlos was an unused substitute in the final, a 3-0 defeat to France.Ze Carlos's only other international appearance came in a friendly against Yugoslavia in 1999. He retired from professional football in 2005.Sao Paulo FC released a statement expressing their condolences: "It is with great sorrow that Sao Paulo FC announce the death of Jose Carlos de Almeida, Ze Carlos, this Friday in Osasco, near Sao Paulo."Ze Carlos's passing is a sad loss for the football world. He was a talented defender who represented his country with pride. His contributions to the 1998 World Cup squad will always be remembered.

Argentina's World Cup qualifying campaign hit a roadblock as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela, despite Lionel Messi's return. Messi's free-kick set up Nicolas Otamendi's early opener, but Salomon Rondon's header equalized for Venezuela. Argentina remain atop the standings, but the draw dents their hopes of a comfortable qualification.Meanwhile, Brazil got their campaign back on track with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Chile. Eduardo Vargas gave Chile an early lead, but Savinho and Igor Jesus equalized for Brazil. Luiz Henrique's late strike secured the win, moving Brazil into fourth place.Bolivia boosted their World Cup hopes with a gutsy 1-0 win over Colombia in the thin air of El Alto. Miguel Terceros' stunning individual goal lifted Bolivia into the automatic qualification positions. Bolivia's move to play qualifiers in El Alto has paid off, with two wins in two games at the high-altitude venue.Ecuador and Paraguay played out a goalless draw in Quito, leaving Ecuador in fifth place. The top six finishers in South America's 10-team round-robin qualifying competition will earn a ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Brazil's women's soccer team has secured a spot in the Olympic final after a thrilling 4-2 victory over world champion Spain. The match, played at Stade de Marseille, saw Brazil take an early lead through an own goal by Irene Paredes and extend their advantage with goals from Gabi Portilho, Adriana, and Kerolin.Spain fought back with goals from Salma Paralluelo and Alexia Putellas, but Brazil held on to secure the win. The victory means that Brazil will face the United States in the final on Saturday, while Spain will play Germany for the bronze medal.Brazil's victory was a testament to their determination and resilience. Despite being without their star player Marta, who was suspended for the semifinals, the team played with heart and passion. They dominated the chances and made their superiority count, scoring four goals to Spain's two.Spain, on the other hand, showed their fighting spirit by coming back from 2-0 down to beat Colombia in the quarterfinals. However, they were unable to repeat that feat against Brazil, who were simply too strong on the day.The match was a thrilling spectacle that showcased the best of women's soccer. Brazil's victory was a well-deserved reward for their hard work and dedication, and they will now be hoping to go one step further and win the gold medal.

The Olympic women's football tournament is reaching its climax, with reigning World Cup champions Spain and four-time gold medallists the United States emerging as the favorites to face off in the final.Spain, led by Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati, will face surprise semi-finalists Brazil in Marseille. The Brazilians, despite missing suspended captain Marta, stunned hosts France in the quarter-finals.Meanwhile, a rejuvenated USA under new coach Emma Hayes will meet Germany in Lyon. Hayes, who took over in May, has guided the Americans to three group stage wins and an extra-time victory over Japan in the quarter-finals.The USA, who last won the Olympic title in 2012, are seeking to extend their record of five gold medals. They have already defeated Germany 4-1 in the group stage, giving them confidence heading into the semi-final.Germany, the 2016 gold medallists, finished second in their group behind the USA and edged out Canada on penalties in the quarter-finals. Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was the hero, saving two penalties and converting the winning kick.Spain, making their Olympic debut in women's football, are aiming to continue their impressive form after winning the World Cup last year. However, they nearly crashed out in the quarter-finals against Colombia, trailing 2-0 before equalizing late and winning on penalties.The semi-finals promise to be thrilling encounters, with Spain and Brazil facing off in a battle of contrasting styles, while the USA and Germany will renew their rivalry in a rematch of the 2016 final.

Legendary Brazilian footballer Marta's illustrious Olympic career came to a heartbreaking end on Wednesday as she was sent off in Brazil's final group game against reigning world champion Spain at the Paris Olympics 2024.The six-time women's world player of the year, playing in her sixth Olympics, received a straight red card in the blockbuster clash between Brazil and Spain. The 38-year-old star had already announced that the ongoing Paris Games would be her last major tournament with the national women's football team.Marta's dismissal came in the first-half stoppage time after a harsh tackle on Spain's Olga Carmona. The Brazilian captain was visibly distraught as she walked off the field in Bordeaux, her Olympic dream shattered.Brazil, one of the most successful teams in women's football history, has come close to a historic gold twice, winning silver medals in the 2004 and 2008 editions of the women's tournaments at the Olympics.Marta, better known just by her first name, has smashed a record 119 goals in 200 international appearances with Brazil in her glittering career. In addition to her six Olympic appearances, she has also featured in six FIFA women's World Cups, netting the most FIFA World Cup goals (17).The Brazilian icon also has 13 Olympic goals to her name, one away from matching fellow Brazilian Cristiane's all-time record at the Games.Marta's red card was a cruel blow to Brazil's hopes of reaching the quarterfinals. The Selecao will now face a daunting task against the Netherlands in the knockout stage.

Uruguay and Colombia emerged victorious in their respective Copa America quarterfinal matches, setting up a thrilling semifinal clash.Uruguay's 4-2 penalty shootout triumph over Brazil was a testament to their resilience and determination. Despite going down to 10 men in the second half, Uruguay held their ground and forced the match into a shootout. Sergio Rochet's heroics in goal, saving Brazil's first penalty, proved crucial.Brazil, without the suspended Vinicius Jr., struggled to create clear-cut chances. Uruguay's high-pressing tactics and physicality made it difficult for the Selecao to find their rhythm. The match was marred by a series of bruising challenges, with 17-year-old Brazilian forward Endrick being a particular target.Colombia, meanwhile, cruised to a 5-0 victory over Panama, extending their unbeaten run to 27 matches. James Rodriguez was the star of the show, scoring one goal and setting up two more. Colombia's dominance was evident from the outset, with Jhon Cordoba heading home the opener in the eighth minute.Panama had a brief spell of possession but failed to capitalize on their chances. Colombia punished their opponents with further goals from Rodriguez, Luis Diaz, Richard Rios, and Miguel Borja.

Colombia's resilient performance against Brazil on Tuesday secured their qualification to the Copa America quarter-finals as group winners. Despite conceding an early goal to Raphinha's stunning free-kick, Colombia fought back to earn a 1-1 draw, courtesy of Daniel Munoz's equalizer in first-half stoppage time.The result means Colombia advance to the knockout rounds as winners of Group D, where they will face Group C runners-up Panama in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday. Brazil, on the other hand, will face a formidable challenge in Las Vegas on Saturday against arch-rivals Uruguay, winners of Group D with a perfect record.Brazil's goalscorer Raphinha expressed confidence in his team's ability to overcome any opponent, including Uruguay. "Our team is evolving with each game, with each training session, and we think we're on the right track," Raphinha said. "We have to be prepared for anyone if we want to win this competition."However, Brazil will be without Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr in the quarter-finals after he picked up his second yellow card of the tournament for a reckless foul on James Rodriguez. Colombia's playmaker Rodriguez had Brazil fans on edge with his ensuing free-kick, which clipped the top of the bar.Despite Brazil's early lead, Colombia remained a threat throughout the first half. Rodriguez volleyed over the bar on the turn, and he thought he had set up Colombia's equalizer with a pinpoint cross for Davinson Sanchez, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.Tempers flared midway through the first half, with three yellow cards issued in quick succession. However, Colombia's slick play in stoppage time paid off when Munoz blasted home after being released by a superb pass from Jhon Cordoba.Colombia looked comfortable through the second half and should have wrapped up victory in the final minutes, but substitute Rafael Borre shot over from eight yards with the goal gaping. In Tuesday's other Group D game, Costa Rica defeated Paraguay 2-1 in Austin to finish in third place.