Neymar’s second-half goal gave Brazil a 2-1 victory over Colombia yesterday as the five-times world champions registered their second consecutive win to take the second place in the South American qualifying group for Russia 2018.
The home side got the perfect start when Miranda rose after just 80 seconds to head home a corner and score his first goal in 33 appearances for the national side.
Brazil, playing just their second game under new coach Tite, dominated the first half with a high-pace pressing game but struggled to make clear cut chances and paid the price in the 35th minute when Colombia equalised against the run of play.
James Rodriguez floated in a free-kick from 35 yards out and Brazilian defender Marquinhos headed the ball into his own net.
Neymar took a pass just inside the box with 73 minutes gone and his angled drive was well placed into the far corner to beat Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.
It was his 48th goal in 72 international games and takes the Barcelona striker equal to Zico on Brazil’s all-time goal-scoring list.
The result in the humid heat of Manaus marked the first time that Brazil have won two consecutive games in what has until now been a stuttering qualifying campaign.
The result lifts Brazil to 15 points, ahead of Argentina on goal difference.
Defender Nicolas Otamendi sneaked a late equaliser as Argentina, without injured captain Lionel Messi, came back from two goals down for a 2-2 draw away to Venezuela.
The Venezuelans were deserving of their second point in eight qualifiers after goals by young forward Juanpi Anor and striker Josef Martinez had their opponents on the ropes.
But striker Lucas Pratto pulled one back with his maiden goal in his second match for Argentina, putting the visitors’ tails up after a sluggish first hour in the wet in Merida.
Colombia sit two points behind them in fourth place in the ten-team South American group.
Uruguay, who beat Paraguay 4-0 earlier in the evening, top the table with 16 points.
Ecuador remain in fifth after going down 2-1 to Peru in Lima as Chile could only draw 0-0 with Bolivia and sit in seventh place.
The top four qualify for Russia 2018 and the fifth place side goes into an intercontinental play-off with a team from Oceania.