Brazil edge Ecuador as Rodrygo strike ends winless World Cup qualifying run

Rodrygo scored the winning goal in the first half as Brazil defeated Ecuador 1-0 in Curitiba to end a four-game winless streak in World Cup 2026 qualifying.

The 23-year-old Real Madrid swinger scored with a shot from outside the box in the 30th minute, which was deflected by a defender and went in off the right-hand post. Victory boosted the Seleçao’s qualifying campaign after they had lost to Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina at the end of 2023 after a 1-1 home draw with Venezuela.

Related: Brazil at rock bottom: how the Seleção lost their way

Seeking an early goal to settle their nerves, the hosts almost got it when Vinícius Júnior closed down keeper Hernán Galíndez, whose clearance ricocheted off the forward and into the side netting. After Rodrygo’s opener, Moisés Caicedo was denied a leveller, first by Alisson’s save and then by Gabriel Magalhães, who cleared his follow-up shot off the line.

Rodrygo went close to a second goal with a near-post shot that Galíndez pushed away, but it was Ecuador who looked the more likely to score in the closing stages. Dorival Júnior’s side held on and are now up to fourth in the South American table, with Ecuador in sixth place – the final direct qualification spot – after their five-game unbeaten streak was ended.

Uruguay were held to a goalless draw by Paraguay in Montevideo as Luis Suárez played his 143rd and final international. The 37-year-old hit the post with an acrobatic shot in the 19th minute, after Julio Enciso had hit the woodwork from long range for the visitors.

Miguel Almirón was denied by Uruguay keeper Sergio Rochet before half-time, and while the hosts dominated possession in the second half, it was Paraguay who went closest to scoring when Diego Gómez struck the post from the edge of the area. Uruguay stay second in the standings, with Paraguay in the playoff spot in seventh.

Colombia remain undefeated with three wins and four draws after a 1-1 draw with bottom side Peru in Lima. The Liverpool striker Luis Díaz levelled in the 81st minute, heading home from Jhon Durán’s flick-on. That denied the hosts a surprise victory after Alexander Callens had fired Peru ahead in the 67th minute.

On Thursday, table-topping Argentina earned their sixth win in seven qualifying games by beating Chile 3-0 in Buenos Aires. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring soon after half-time, firing home from Júlian Álvarez’s cross.

Álvarez got the second with a strike from distance six minutes from time, with substitute Paulo Dybala completing the scoring in stoppage time. Argentina next face Colombia in a rematch of the Copa América final on Tuesday.