Paulinho hat-trick seals Brazil rout
In CONMEBOL's top-of-the-table clash, Brazil came out on top thanks to three goals from midfielder Paulinho and classy chip from Neymar.
Paulinho scored an unlikely hat-trick and Neymar starred as Brazil extended its winning run and lead atop the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifying standings with a 4-1 victory over Uruguay.
In a top-of-the-table clash in Montevideo, Brazil came out on top in style thanks to a hat-trick from former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho and a delicious lob from Neymar.
Edinson Cavani opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty — his 40th international goal — but Paulinho restored parity via a stunning long-range strike 10 minutes later before giving Brazil the lead seven minutes into the second half.
Neymar's touch of class 16 minutes from time made it 3-1 and Paulinho sealed the points in stoppage-time with his third as Brazil snapped Uruguay's 14-match unbeaten record at home in FIFA World Cup qualifiers — dating back to 2009 — while making it eight wins in a row under head coach Tite.
Brazil is now seven points clear of nearest challenger Uruguay after 13 matches in the CONMEBOL section on the road to Russia 2018.
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