Neymar scored his 50th international goal as Brazil thrashed Argentina 3-0 to tighten its grip on South America's 2018 World Cup qualification campaign and leave its archrival struggling to reach the Finals. Barcelona superstar Neymar outshone clubmate Lionel Messi in Belo Horizonte — the venue where Brazil was humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the 2014 World Cup semifinals. Argentina is outside of the qualifying places. But Messi insisted that the two time World Cup winners could still get through to the Russia Finals. Neymar's landmark strike was sandwiched by a spectacular effort from Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho and a second-half finish from China-based midfielder Paulinho. Brazil has now won five straight qualifying games under new coach Tite, who took over after Dunga was sacked in June because of Brazil's failure to get out of the Copa America Centenario group stage. Brazil now has 24 points from 11 games, one clear of second-placed Uruguay which has 23 points. The Brazilians are six points clear of third-placed Colombia and seven points clear of Ecuador and Chile, who are level on 17 points after 11 games. Argentina languishing outside the qualifying places in sixth with 16 points. The two-time world champion — which has taken just two points from its past four qualifiers — now faces a crucial game at home to Colombia next Tuesday which it must win to avoid falling further off the pace. "We're down but we're still alive," Argentina captain Messi said. Uruguay, meanwhile, stayed firmly on Brazil's shoulder with a 2-1 defeat of Ecuador at Montevideo's Estadio Centenario. The Uruguayans took the lead on 12 minutes when former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates bundled in a corner from close range for his first international goal. Espanyol striker Felipe Caicedo then rounded off a sweeping Ecuador counter attack to equalize just before half-time. But Uruguay responded immediately, Diego Rolan stabbing home a low finish on the stroke of half time to restore the home side's lead. Elsewhere, Copa America Centenario champions Chile had captain and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to thank for a hard-earned point in a 0-0 draw against Colombia in Barranquilla. The Chileans, missing injured Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez, needed two superb saves from Bravo to keep Colombia at bay in a gritty game played in sweltering conditions. Bravo's display was tempered by an injury which forced the Manchester City goalkeeper off the field midway through the second half. The stopper produced two fine blocks to deny Oscar Murillo and Miguel Borja as Colombia was struggled to break the deadlock. Colombia's Argentinian coach Jose Pekerman bemoaned a lack of precision in front of goal but was buoyed by the return of talismanic striker Radamel Falcao, who was introduced as a half-time substitute. "We tried everything and we had chances but we lacked precision," Pekerman said. "But the most important fact of the game was the return of Falcao." In other games, Paraguay suffered a 4-1 mauling against Peru in Asuncion to derail its qualification campaign. Paraguay took an early lead through Cristian Riveros after nine minutes but Peru hit back with second-half goals from Christian Ramos, Edison Flores, Christian Cueva and an Edgar Benitez own goal to run out convincing winners. Paraguay coach Francisco Arce attempted to put a positive spin on his team's loss. "We're still in the race to qualify," Arce said. "We don't think we're dead, we just need to pick ourselves up and get on with it," he added. Paraguay, which is two points outside the qualifying positions, faces Bolivia away in its next game. Venezuela, meanwhile, scored its first win of the qualifiers with a 5-0 thrashing at home to Bolivia, with Josef Martinez scoring a hat trick.
