Brazil stays perfect with win over Uruguay
Brazil continued its perfect start to World Cup qualifying with a 2-0 win over Uruguay in Montevideo.
First-half goals from Arthur and Richarlison lifted a Neymar-less Brazil to a fourth straight win to begin its 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Uruguay, missing Luis Suarez after the forward's positive coronavirus test, hit the crossbar twice in the first half before its chances took a further hit when Edinson Cavani was sent off in the 71st minute.
The result extended Brazil's unbeaten run against Uruguay to 11 matches.
While Brazil made a bright start, it was Uruguay that went closest to an early opener, Darwin Nunez powering an effort onto the crossbar from inside the area after cutting inside from the left in the fifth minute.
After a relatively even opening, Brazil struck twice in the 11 minutes before half-time through Arthur and Richarlison.
Arthur opened the scoring with his first international goal, the midfielder receiving a pass from Gabriel Jesus before seeing his 20-yard effort take a huge deflection and wrong-foot goalkeeper Martin Campana.
Roberto Firmino squandered a great chance two minutes later when he was denied by Campana, but Brazil would double its lead through Richarlison.
A short corner led to an unmarked Richarlison getting on the end of a Renan Lodi cross to head in and make it 2-0.
There was still time for Uruguay to be denied by the woodwork again to finish the half, Diego Godin's header hitting the crossbar after Nicolas De La Cruz's set-piece.
After few chances to begin the second half, Uruguay's comeback chances were dealt a blow in the 71st minute, Cavani having a yellow card for a challenge on Richarlison upgraded to a red following a VAR check.
Just as Martin Caceres thought he had given the host hope with a goal shortly after, it was correctly ruled out for offside, Uruguay unable to find a way back into the contest.