URUGUAY, Argentina and Colombia qualified for next year's World Cup on Tuesday after a dramatic last round of South American fixtures that also saw Peru clinch a playoff spot against New Zealand and Chile miss out completely.
Brazil were fortunate enough to escape most of the drama, having already qualified as group winners, but they still had a say in who would join them in Russia next year.
Argentina, finalists three years ago but outside the four qualifying spots going into their match in Ecuador, fell behind in the first minute but a Lionel Messi hat-trick guaranteed his side one of the three automatic berths still up for grabs.
"Luckily, we reacted quickly after Ecuador scored," Messi said after the celebrations in Quito had died down following Argentina's 3-1 win. "Thank God, we fulfilled our objective."
Uruguay also went behind at home to Bolivia, to an own goal from Gaston Silva after 24 minutes, but they forged ahead with two goals in each half to finish second in the 10-team group behind five-time World Cup winners Brazil.
Martin Caceres, Edinson Cavani and two Luis Suarez strikes gave the home side a commanding lead before Diego Godin's own goal completed the scoring in a 4-2 win for the hosts.
A second-half goal from Paolo Guerrero kept Peru in with a chance of a first World Cup appearance since 1982 when his brilliant free kick in Lima cancelled out Colombia's opener from James Rodriguez.
Peru, unbeaten in their last six qualifiers under Argentina manager Ricardo Gareca, failed to secure the win that would have ensured automatic qualification but have the consolation of a home-and-away playoff against Oceania champions New Zealand.
"To be in this position was one of our targets for the qualifiers," Gareca said after the 1-1 draw. "There's 180 minutes left. We know that it is difficult but we know that it is up to us."
Five-times champions Brazil had already qualified before their game against Chile in Sao Paulo but a 3-0 home victory saw the visitors drop from third to sixth in the standings, failing to even qualify for the inter-continental playoff.
Three second-half goals, one from Paulinho and two from Gabriel Jesus, enabled the group leaders to extend their unbeaten run in the group to 17 games.
"We finished in top spot with a great win against a strong team," Jesus said. "We were focussed."
The result marks the end of a brilliant run by the Chileans, who won the last two Copa America tournaments in 2015 and 2016 and qualified for the last two World Cups.
"My soul is destroyed," Arturo Vidal, the midfield dynamo who missed the match through suspension, wrote on social media. "Thanks boys, for everything, for all these years together giving our lives in every game."
Paraguay also missed out after they lost 1-0 at home to bottom side Venezuela when a victory would have seen them clinch the playoff berth instead of Peru.
Reuters
Wed Oct 11 2017
Uruguay's National soccer team players celebrate after qualifying to the World Cup finals at Centenario Stadium, Montevideo, Oct 10, 2017. REUTERS
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: Guinea-Bissau akur kepada Israel, tidak beri kebenaran guna bendera bagi misi pelayaran
Kerajaan Republik Guinea-Bissau dilaporkan tunduk dan akur kepada gesaan Israel untuk tidak membenarkan misi pelayaran Break The Siege: Freedom Flotilla to Gaza menggunakan bendera mereka.
Penyakit berkaitan haba dikhuatiri meningkat di Gaza
Penularan penyakit berkaitan haba panas menjadi kebimbangan terbaharu di Gaza selepas suhu luar jangka melampau melanda wilayah itu setiap hari. Ia sudah semestinya diburukkan lagi dengan kekurangan air bersih dan ketiadaan sistem pembuangan sisa pepejal yang sepatutnya wujud di sesebuah kawasan didiami manusia.
Ilhan Omar melawat peserta tunjuk perasaan
Wakil Dewan Perwakilan Amerika Syarikat (AS) Ilhan Omar mengadakan lawatan di kampus penyokong Pro Palestin di Universiti Columbia New York pada Khamis.
Dua lelaki didakwa jadi 'tali barut' kepada China
Dua lelaki yang mana salah seorangnya pernah bertugas di Parlimen United Kingdom (UK) enjalani proses perbicaraan di mahkamah London pada Jumaat selepas didakwa menjadi tali barut menyalurkan maklumat sulit kerajaan kepada negara tembok besar itu.
Polis serbu pejabat 'Save the Children' di Guatemala
Polis Guatemala melakukan serbuan mengejut ke atas pejabat-pejabat Pertubuhan Save the Children di pelbagai lokasi di negara itu. Ia bagi mencari bukti dakwaan pertubuhan yang memperjuangkan kebajikan kanak-kanak itu, terlibat dalam jenayah penderaan terhadap golongan itu.
LIMA '25 dianjurkan pada 20-24 Mei tahun depan
Pameran Maritim dan Aeroangkasa Antarabangsa Langkawi 2025 (LlMA ‘25) akan dianjurkan pada 20 hingga 24 Mei tahun depan bertemakan Innovate Today, Thrive Tomorrow.
Malaysia komited tingkat hubungan dua hala bersama Libya
Malaysia terus komited mempertingkatkan hubungan dua hala yang berterusan bersama Libya demi manfaat bersama dalam pelbagai sektor.
Demi rakyat, Zahid-Muhyiddin henti saman fitnah
Presiden Umno, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dan Presiden Bersatu, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin bersepakat untuk menamatkan pertikaian peribadi antara mereka.
Sultan Selangor berangkat ke Majlis Bacaan Yassin di Pangkalan TLDM
Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah yang juga Kepten Yang Dipertua Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) berkenan berangkat ke Pangkalan TLDM Lumut di Perak bagi menghadiri Majlis Bacaan Yasin, Tahlil dan Khutbah Khas sempena Sambutan Hari TLDM ke-90.
PM Anwar pulangkan elaun Pengerusi Khazanah
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim memaklumkan beliau memulangkan elaun sebagai pengerusi Khazanah Nasional Berhad yang diterimanya dan sekali lagi menegaskan tidak menerima gaji bagi jawatan Perdana Menteri yang disandangnya sejak November 2022.
Warga Venezuela di Argentina protes tuntut pilihan raya bebas
Puluhan migran Venezuela yang menetap di Argentina berarak di Buenos Aires bagi menyuarakan rasa tidak puas hati terhadap Presiden Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro serta menuntut pilihan raya bebas.
Saya telah menang semuanya - Messi
Messi sudah berjaya menjulang pelbagai trofi sepanjang kariernya dan mengakui sudah rasa cukup dengan pencapaian yang diraihnya itu.
Hujan lebat berterusan, Buenos Aires keluar amaran tahap oren
Perkhidmatan Meteorologi Kebangsaan (SMN) mengeluarkan amaran pada tahap oren berikutan ribut akibat hujan lebat di kawasan metropolitan Buenos Aires pada Rabu.
Argentina terpaksa lupakan Messi
Messi telah diketepikan daripada skuad Argentina untuk perlawanan persahabatan yang akan datang di Amerika Syarikat kerana kecederaan hamstring, kata Persatuan Bola Sepak Argentina.
Empat pemain kelab Velez Sarsfield berdepan tuduhan serangan seksual
Empat pemain kelab bola sepak Argentina, Velez Sarsfield ditahan atas perintah mahkamah Argentina selepas dituduh melakukan serangan seksual pada Isnin.
Penampakan 'UFO' di Argentina
Sebuah rakaman memaparkan objek aneh berbentuk bulat berlegar-legar di wilayah Tucuman, Argentina mencetuskan tanda tanya.
Kemiskinan di Argentina cecah paras tertinggi 57.4 peratus - Kajian
Tahap kemiskinan itu merupakan yang tertinggi pernah dicapai Argentina dalam tempoh sekurang-kurangnya 20 tahun.
Kelayakan Olimpik: Brazil kandas, tidak layak ke Paris 2024
Brazil gagal melayakkan diri ke kejohanan bola sepak Olimpik lelaki selepas tewas 1-0 kepada Argentina.
Kerajaan, pemimpin Amerika Latin ucap takziah pemergian Sebastian Pinera
Kerajaan dan para pemimpin di seluruh Amerika Latin menzahirkan ucapan takziah atas kematian bekas Presiden Chile, Sebastian Pinera dalam nahas helikopter.
Tunjuk perasaan di Argentina protes lawatan Presiden Javier Milei ke Israel
Dianggarkan ratusan peserta tunjuk perasaaan berkumpul di luar premis Kementerian Luar Negeri Argentina untuk menyuarakan protes terhadap lawatan Presiden Javier Milei ke Israel pada Isnin.