SANTIAGO: Opening round of South America’s qualifying campaigns for the 2018 World Cup witnessed shock defeats of big teams at the hands of minnows on Thursday.
Argentina and Brazil were shown exit in the first round by Ecuador and Chile respectively.
A star-studded Argentina-less-injured-captain-Lionel Messi struggled to find a way through a disciplined Ecuador at the Estadio Monumental.
The tone for a miserable night for Argentina had been set early on, when Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was stretchered off the field with what looked like a serious hamstring injury.
The game appeared to be heading for a 0-0 draw entering the final 10 minutes before Ecuador secured a breakthrough from a Frickson Erazo header that fired the minnows into a 1-0 lead.
Moments later Antonio Valencia burst down the right flank and fed for Felipe Caicedo, who slotted home past Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero for 2-0.
Meanwhile, Brazil also missing their talismanic presence with captain Neymar serving a suspension were undone by goals from Chile stars Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sanchez in Santiago.
Vargas, topscorer in Chile’s triumphant Copa America campaign, picked up where he left off in that tournament to fire the hosts into the lead on 72 minutes.
Arsenal star Sanchez then applied the coup de grace in the 90th minute, jabbing home from close range after a wonderful flowing move which ripped Brazil’s defence apart. Hence, Brazil were beaten 2-0.
