THE DAY REPLAYED - Ecuador maintained their one hundred per cent record and ended Uruguay’s with a 2-1 home win that, coupled with Chile’s draw with Colombia, sent them clear at the top of table in the South American qualifying competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
In Thursday’s other game, Bolivia beat Venezuela to climb off the bottom and leave LaVinotinto trailing in last place just behind Peru, who entertain Paraguay on Friday. Meanwhile, heavy rain forced the postponement of the eagerly awaited meeting between Argentina and Brazil, which will now be played on Friday evening.
Match of the dayChile 1-1 Colombia
Arturo Vidal 45 (Chile); James Rodriguez 68 (Colombia)
Colombia halted the reigning South American champions’ perfect start to the competition and their run of five straight qualifying wins at home by claiming a precious point in Santiago. Though La Roja seized the initiative when Vidal pounced on the stroke of half-time, Los Cafeteros kept their composure and pulled level courtesy of James’ first international goal since October 2014.
ElsewhereThe only side yet to drop points in the competition, Ecuador made it three wins out of three by edging out Uruguay in Quito. Full of attacking endeavour, La Tricolor were indebted to goals from Felipe Caicedo and Fidel Martinez as they stretched their unbeaten run against La Celeste in World Cup qualifiers to three games. Returning from the suspension he picked up in the Copa America, Edinson Cavani scored his side’s only goal.
In the day’s other game, Bolivia produced a convincing performance to score their first points of the competition with a 4-2 defeat of Venezuela in La Paz, their first win in three home games against La Vinotinto in the preliminaries. Rodrigo Ramallo was the star of the show with two goals, with Rudy Cardozo and Juan Carlos Arce also getting on the scoresheet for the hosts. The visitors’ goals came from Tomas Rincon and Richard Blanco.
Player of the dayRodrigo Ramallo (Bolivia)

After missing Bolivia’s opening two qualifiers through injury, the 25-year-old front man, who plays his club football for The Strongest, made up for lost time by playing a part in all four of La Verde’s goals against Venezuela. As well as scoring the first and third, Ramallo had a hand in the second by heading the ball to Damian Lizo, who was then fouled for the penalty converted by Arce, and in the fourth, which came when his shot was saved and Cardozo tucked away the rebound.
Did you know?On the target again against Uruguay, Felipe Caicedo is the only player to have scored on all three matchdays to date. With 11, Felipão is now tied with Edinson Mendez as Ecuador’s joint second-highest scorer in World Cup preliminaries, though he has reached that tally in 22 games to Mendez’s 44. Leading the way for La Tri in qualifiers is Agustin Delgado with 16 goals in 31 outings.
What they said“I never thought we’d come away from this game with nothing. This defeat gives us cause for concern and as the coach I’m honestly very worried. We simply have to win at home now,” Venezuela coach Noel Sanvicente reacts to his side’s reverse in La Paz.
Matchday 3 resultsThursday 12 November
Bolivia 4-2 Venezuela
Ecuador 2-1 Uruguay
Chile 1-1 Colombia
Argentina-Brazil*
Friday 13
Peru-Paraguay
*Postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and will now be played on Friday 13 at 21:00 (local time)