CONMEBOL 2014 World Cup qualifying: Argentina draw Ecuador in a thriller

Uruguay just about scraped a much-needed win in Venezuela through Edinson Cavani. The hosts are now in fifth place in the playoff spot, overtaking their opponents Venezuela on goal difference to end a miserable recent run.

David Pizarro returned for the hosts after a long absence from the national team, and marked the occasion with a fine display and a win. Eduardo Vargas opened the scoring before Alexis Sanchez’s first international goal for almost two years doubled Chile’s advantage. Marcelo Martins struck back for the visitors in the first half, but Chile held on, Arturo Vidal heading home in injury time to seal the result.

Venezuela are the only CONMEBOL nation to never reach a World Cup finals, though are in with a chance this time. Currently sitting in a playoff spot, they’ll look to maximize their home advantage and take points from a Uruguay side that haven’t won their last six qualification games, and for whom qualification is at serious risk. Three points adrift of the playoffs, Óscar Tabárez’s side are in dire need of three points.

Chile have been one of the more unpredictable teams in CONMEBOL of late, having won six and lost six of their 12 games so far. Currently with a two-point advantage inside the automatic qualification spots, they’ll be looking for a win against Bolivia, who’ve won only twice throughout their qualification campaign so far. For La Verde, the World Cup is an extremely distant dream.