Raphinha opened the scoring before Philippe Coutinho doubled the lead and late goals from Antony and Rodrygo sealed all three points for Brazil.
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Brazil thrashed Paraguay 4-0 to extend their unbeaten run to 15 games in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday. In Belo Horizonte, Leeds United forward Raphinha had a goal disallowed by the VAR early before netting the opener in the 28th minute, with new Aston Villa signing Philippe Coutinho adding a second on 62 minutes for his first international goal since 2020. The hosts added two more in the dying minutes as Ajax forward Antony curled in , before Newcastle United addition Bruno Guimaraes set up Rogrygo to tap home.
¡Show de La Canarinha en Belo Horizonte! ?
Brasil goleó 4-0 a Paraguay y sigue en lo más alto de la tabla… ?
?? 4 ? 0 ??
⚽?? Raphinha, P. Coutinho, Antony y Rodrygo.#EliminatoriasSudamericanas pic.twitter.com/mKgNNYpEk6
— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) February 2, 2022
The win helped Brazil to extend their unbeaten run at home in the World cup qualifiers to a record 61 games. The Selecao, who have already ensured their qualification to Qatar 2022, remain four points clear of rivals Argentina at the top of the CONMEBOL standings. Meanwhile, Paraguay, who have yet to win any of their first five games under coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto, are second bottom of the 10-team group with 13 points from 16 games.
It was a hot and cold night for Raphinha, who scored one, had another chalked off and also hit the post. The 25-year-old thought he had put Brazil ahead after just 93 seconds only to see that goal ruled out after a lengthy consultation with a Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
However, two minutes before the half-hour mark, the Leeds united striker brilliantly controlled a long ball from Marquinhos and fired in low at the near post to put the hosts 1-0 ahead. He was unlucky not to get another early in the second half, but saw his volley come back off the post.
Vinicius Junior should have extended Brazil’s lead before half-time, when in a one-on-one situation, but his heavy touch allowed Paraguay goalkeeper Antoni Silva to clear.
Silva made a fine save early in the second half from Thiago Silva’s header while Lucas Paquetta’s 56th-minute close-range effort went over the bar after a sublime pass from Coutinho. Coutinho finally got the second for Brazil just after the hour-mark, when he unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner from 30-meters out.
Four minutes from time, Antony curled a left-foot shot past a helpless goalkeeper to make the score 3-0 in Brazil’s favor. And Rodrygo tapped home a minute later to complete the drubbing. With qualification already secured, Brazil fielded a much changed side. Talismanic striker Neymar was out with injury and there were rare starts for goalkeeper Ederson, midfielder Fabinho, left-back Alex Telles and captain on the night Dani Alves.
