Brazil Center-back Nicolas Otamendi scored the only goal to help Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in the sixth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America on the morning of November 22.
Otamendi scores a header to help Argentina defeat hosts Brazil at the Maracana Stadium in the sixth round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in South America on the morning of November 22. Photo: Reuters
The match, dubbed the "Classic" of South American football, was heated before the match started. In a corner of the Maracana stadium, fans of both teams fought with each other. The cause was said to be Argentinian fans singing a hit song from the 2022 World Cup and Brazilian fans booing in response. The incident caused the match to start about 30 minutes later than scheduled. Brazilian police arrested eight fans involved.
After the opening whistle, the situation on the field was equally tense. Fouls tore the match apart and neither team could develop a clear game plan.
In the first half, Brazil committed 16 fouls, while Argentina committed six. All three yellow cards in the first half went to the home team. Gabriel Jesus received the first yellow card, after kicking De Paul in the face in the fifth minute. Nine minutes later, Raphinha was booked for a foul on De Paul. In the 33rd minute, full-back Carlos Augusto was booked for preventing Argentina from counter-attacking.
The match was torn apart by many fierce collisions and fouls by players from both sides. In the photo, Gabriel Jesus fell while fighting with De Paul (number 7) and Marcos Acuña (number 8 in striped shirt). Photo: AP
The only notable moment in the first half was Gabriel Martinelli's shot that sailed through the crowd. However, an Argentine defender managed to clear the ball on the goal line.
Brazil were without Neymar and Vinicius due to injury. Rodrygo replaced Neymar in the attacking midfield position behind Martinelli, while Raphinha and Martinelli played on the wing. Meanwhile, after losing 0-2 to Uruguay, Argentina started midfielder Giovani Lo Celso. Left-back Marcos Acuna replaced Nicolas Tagliafico.
After the break, the two teams played boldly, taking more risks to find a goal. Brazil took the initiative to control the ball and press the front line. However, in their two shots towards the goal, Raphinha and Gabriel Jesus were unable to beat goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. In the middle of the second half, Argentina began to dominate. In the 63rd minute, the away team opened the scoring from a simple set-up. After Lo Celso's corner, center-back Nicolas Otamendi headed the ball past goalkeeper Alisson.
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