FIFA World Cup

Vinicius Junior’s Late Wonder Goal Lifts Brazil to 2-1 Victory Over Colombia

Match Summary Brazil secured a thrilling 2-1 win over Colombia in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers, thanks to a moment of magic from Vinicius Junior. The Real Madrid winger played a key role in the opening goal and delivered a stunning late winner to earn all three points for his team. However, the night was not without challenges, as injuries to Gerson and Alisson added to Brazil’s growing list of absentees.

Key Moments

Early Lead: Brazil took the lead just six minutes into the match when Raphia calmly converted a penalty after Vinicius was brought down inside the box.
Colombia’s Response: In the 28th minute, Brazil suffered a setback as Gerson was forced off due to injury, with Joelton replacing him. Just before halftime, James Rodríguez set up Luis Díaz, who fired home a brilliant strike to level the score.
Second-Half Drama: Colombia dominated possession after the break, and the game saw a scary moment in the 70th minute when Davinson Sánchez collided with Alisson. The Colombian defender had to be stretchered off, while Alisson left the field after receiving treatment, making way for Bento.
Vinicius’ Magic: As stoppage time went beyond 10 minutes, Brazil pushed for a winner. Arana missed a golden opportunity, but Vinicius stepped up with a sensational 30-yard strike to secure the victory.

Player Ratings

Goalkeeper & Defense

Alisson (7/10): Reliable throughout his time on the pitch but couldn’t do much about Díaz’s goal. Had to be substituted due to injury.
Guilherme Arana (6/10): Defended well but struggled to make an impact going forward.
Gabriel (7/10): Strong at the back and confident in possession but picked up an unnecessary booking.
Marquinhos (7/10): Solid performance, maintaining composure in key moments.
Vanderson (5/10): Had trouble dealing with Luis Díaz and struggled defensively.

Midfield

Gerson (N/A): Substituted early due to injury.
Bruno Guimarães (6/10): A steady presence in midfield but struggled at times under Colombia’s pressing. Improved when paired with Joelton.

Attack

Raphia (8/10): Coolly slotted home his penalty and was influential in an unfamiliar No.10 role.
Vinicius Junior (9/10): The standout performer, winning the penalty and scoring a breathtaking winner.
João Pedro (5/10): Struggled to get involved due to a lack of service but held up play decently.
Rodrigo (5/10): Had a quiet night, unable to make a significant impact.

Standings & Next Fixture

With this victory, Brazil jumped from sixth to second in the standings, collecting 21 points from 13 matches. They now trail Argentina (25 points) and will face their South American rivals in a crucial qualifier on Tuesday.