Fri Mar 21 06:20:00 UTC 2025: **Last-Minute Winner Sends Brazil to Victory Over Colombia in World Cup Qualifier**

Brasília, Brazil – A dramatic late goal secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Brazil over Colombia in a crucial South American World Cup qualifier on Thursday. Vinicius Junior’s stoppage-time strike, in the ninth minute of added time, snatched three points for the hosts, keeping their hopes of automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup alive.

Raphinha opened the scoring for Brazil with an early penalty, but Luis Diaz leveled for Colombia before halftime. The match was a closely contested affair, with Colombia posing a significant threat despite playing away from home. The referee added ten minutes of stoppage time due to a lengthy injury delay, a period Brazil ultimately capitalized on.

The win moves Brazil into second place in the CONMEBOL standings with 21 points, eight points ahead of seventh-place Bolivia with five matches remaining. The top six teams automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the seventh-placed team enters the inter-confederation playoffs.

Despite missing several key players, including Neymar, due to injury, Brazil showcased their depth of talent. The performance highlighted the contributions of Raphinha and Vinicius Junior in attack. Colombia, boasting a strong mix of experienced and young players, also put in a commendable performance, but ultimately fell short against the late Brazilian surge. Both teams are aiming for automatic qualification, with Colombia currently sitting one place and one point above Brazil in the standings. Colombia’s next match is against Paraguay.

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