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Brazil has all but booked its spot in the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a dominant 4-1 win at Uruguay on Thursday in qualifying. The visitors, the top team in South America, took advantage of an undermanned team that was missing Luis Suarez, Fernando Muslera and Jose Gimenez due to suspension.
Paulinho scored a hat trick while Neymar added a stunning strike to see Brazil move to 30 points in the standings.
After Uruguay went up nine minutes in thanks to an Edinson Cavani penalty kick, Paulinho brought things level just 10 minutes later with a wonderful rocket goal.
POW!!!
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 23, 2017
@paulinho squares things up with an ABSOLUTE SCREAMER!!! 1-1. #WCQ https://t.co/mNRiRktJee
Paulhino then scored to make it 2-1 early in the second half with a rebound from close before Neymar made it 3-1 by doing this with 15 minutes to go:
DINK!@neymarjr gets in on the act with a delicious lob. 3-1. #WCQ https://t.co/4CTYKiM7s8
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 24, 2017
Brazil continued to push and got its fourth off a chested goal from Paulinho at the death to cement the flattering scoreline.
With the result, Brazil is in the driver’s seat in CONMEBOL with a seven-point lead. Uruguay is still in second place in qualifying and is more than on track to qualify for next year’s World Cup.
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