A moment of pure brilliance from Vinicius Junior sealed a thrilling 2-1 victory for Brazil against Colombia in a dramatic CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier on Thursday. The Real Madrid superstar played a key role in Brazil’s opener and capped off the night with a stunning last-minute winner.
Despite the victory, injuries to Alisson and Gerson added to Brazil’s growing list of absentees, including Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Neymar Jr.
How It Happened
Brazil got off to a dream start when Raphinha coolly converted a 6th-minute penalty, won after Vinicius was fouled by Daniel Muñoz. However, the early joy was short-lived as midfielder Gerson limped off injured in the 28th minute, forcing an early change.
Colombia capitalized on the disruption just before halftime. A defensive mistake allowed James Rodríguez to slip a perfect pass to Luis Díaz, who rifled home a brilliant 18-yard strike to equalize.
The second half saw Colombia dominate possession, and in the 70th minute, a horror collision between Davinson Sánchez and Alisson led to a lengthy stoppage. Sánchez was stretchered off, while Alisson, after receiving treatment, walked off under his own power, replaced by Bento in goal.
Vinicius to the Rescue
With stoppage time extending past 10 minutes, Brazil desperately pushed for a winner. Guilherme Arana wasted a golden chance at the far post, but then Vinicius delivered a moment of magic.
Cutting in from the left, he unleashed an unstoppable 30-yard curler that left the Colombian keeper helpless, sealing a crucial three points for Brazil.
Brazil Jumps to Second Place
With the win, Brazil moved from sixth to second in the standings, now with 21 points from 13 matches. They trail Argentina (25 points), setting up a massive showdown between the two rivals on Tuesday.
Player Ratings
🔹 Vinicius Junior (9/10) – Brazil’s savior, winning the penalty and scoring a spectacular late winner.
🔹 Raphinha (8/10) – Slotted his penalty calmly and played a creative role.
🔹 Alisson (7/10) – Reliable before injury forced him off.
🔹 Joelinton (4/10) – His early error led to Colombia’s equalizer, though he recovered later.
🔹 Dorival Junior (5/10) – Still searching for a reliable striker, with Brazil’s attack lacking cohesion.
Brazil’s win was far from perfect, but Vinicius’ brilliance ensured all three points ahead of a massive test against Argentina.
