SAO PAULO (AP) — An 89th-minute goal from substitute Luiz Henrique gave Brazil a 2-1 away win over Chile in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on Thursday.

The victory meant Brazilian coach Dorival Júnior’s team will finish the ninth round of the round-robin competition in fourth place in South American qualifying under pressure.

Earlier, Lionel Messi’s Argentina drew 1-1 with Venezuela in a match that was postponed for 30 minutes due to a wet pitch at the Monumental Stadium in the Venezuelan city of Maturin.

Argentina, which leads the competition with ten teams, has 19 points after nine games. Colombia remain in second place with 16 points after a 1-0 defeat at Bolivia. Uruguay is third with 15 points and has the chance to add more in the match against Peru on Friday. Brazil has 13 points.

Brazil is making a dramatic comeback

Chile, one of the worst performing teams in South American qualifying, opened the scoring seconds after kick-off at the National Stadium in Santiago. Veteran striker Eduardo Vargas headed past goalkeeper Ederson, the ball gently hitting the back of the net.

Brazil struggled to create clear chances, but managed to equalize in extra time with a header from new striker Igor Jesus, who came on as a replacement for the injured Vinicius Júnior. The visitors retained most of the ball in the second half, but were unable to create any clear opportunities.

In the closing minutes, Henrique decided to take his chances from the edge of the penalty area. The winning goal caused several Chilean players to throw themselves on the ground in fear.

Brazil’s next match is against Peru in Brasilia. Chile travels to Colombia.

“This shirt means a lot. It’s a great feeling for us to wear it. We know what is happening, but we wanted to change it,” Henrique said. “Our fans can be assured that we will always fight for this team. We are the only five-time World Cup champions, we will play with passion.”

Dorival Júnior said his team will continue to have ups and downs as the coach tries out new players.

“In two years we will have a very strong team,” Júnior said in reference to the next World Cup. “But it’s only in the dictionary that success comes before work.”

Messi returns to Argentina

Defender Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring for Argentina in the 13th minute. He pushed the ball into the empty net after a cross Messi and a mistake by goalkeeper Rafael Romo.

Salomón Rondón equalized in the 65th minute with a header for the only South American team yet to play in a World Cup.

“The pitch didn’t help us do what we wanted to do,” said Messi, who returned to the national team after missing the previous two rounds of South American qualifying due to ligament damage to his right ankle.

Venezuela defender Jon Aramburu said his team wanted a win to show its ambition.

“The rain affected the match, we couldn’t play well,” he said. “We played against a team that everyone knows has potential. But this team is here to beat them, to compete.”

Bolivia on cloud nine to beat Colombia

Colombia, that had been the last undefeated team in the South American qualifyingwas shocked by Bolivia in the municipal stadium in the city of El Alto, more than 4,000 meters above sea level. Bolivia climbed to fifth place with 12 points after their first win in 21 years against the Colombians.

Miguel Terceros, also known as Miguelito, scored the winning goal for Bolivia in the 58th minute with a powerful shot after dribbling through two defenders.

Bolivia had lost Héctor Cuellar to a straight red card in the 21st minute after a horrific tackle that forced the substitution of striker Roger Martinez, but the team remained competitive until the end of the match in the high-altitude stadium.

“We are a young team that wants to change history,” Terceros said. “Now we travel to Argentina and think about victory.”

Bolivia has not qualified for a World Cup since the 1994 edition in the United States.

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