Mueez Ajao
– Peru sealed a World Cup play-off place as Brazil set a new points record in South American World Cup qualifying with a 4-0 win in Bolivia.
– Peru will play either Australia or the United Arab Emirates in June following a 2-0 victory over Paraguay that meant Colombia and Chile miss out.
– Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador and Uruguay had already qualified for the Qatar tournament in November.
Also Read: Suarez’s Uruguay book place in World Cup as Peru are jolted
– Colombia missed out by one point, in sixth, after beating Venezuela 1-0.
– Chile also needed to win and hope that Peru and Colombia both dropped points to stand a chance of qualification – but they lost 2-0 to Uruguay after fine goals by Atletico Madrid’s Luis Suarez and Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde.
– Peru are seeking consecutive World Cup appearances, having defeated New Zealand 2-0 over two legs to reach the 2018 tournament in Russia.
– They will will meet Australia or the UAE in the intercontinental play-off, after both countries were third in their respective Asian qualifying groups.
– Australia, who had already secured a play-off place, lost 1-0 to Group B winners Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, while the UAE denied South Korea top spot in Group A with a 1-0 win that ensured their play-off place ahead of Iraq.
– Unbeaten Brazil, who have one rearranged match against Argentina still to play, have 45 points from 14 wins and three draws – two more than Marcelo Bielsa’s Argentina achieved in 2002.
– Everton’s Richarlison struck twice for Tite’s side and Newcastle United’s January signing Bruno Guimaraes also scored, following Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta’s opener.
– It was a third successive 4-0 victory for Brazil, despite being without suspended Paris St-Germain forward Neymar.
– Meanwhile, second-placed Argentina extended their unbeaten run to 31 games in a 1-1 draw away to Ecuador, who qualified in fourth following Uruguay’s win.
