Brazil Triumphs Over Ecuador With Rodrygo's Decisive Goal In World Cup Qualifier

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A deflected first-half goal from Rodrygo secured Brazil a vital 1-0 win against Ecuador, ending their three-match losing streak in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Dorival Junior's squad entered Friday's match lagging in the CONMEBOL qualification standings, positioned sixth after losses to Uruguay, Colombia, and Argentina in late 2023.

Brazil's performance in Curitiba was disjointed, but Real Madrid forward Rodrygo provided the breakthrough. Receiving Lucas Paqueta's pass 25 yards from goal, Rodrygo cut onto his right foot and saw his shot deflect off William Pacho into the bottom-left corner at the half-hour mark. Six minutes later, Rodrygo nearly scored again.

Despite this, it wasn't an easy game for the hosts. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson made a crucial save just before half-time to deny Moises Caicedo in a one-on-one situation, preserving Brazil's lead. This save proved vital as Ecuador failed to create a better opportunity.

Brazil's recent form has been lacklustre, evident from their flat performance at the Copa America. In Friday’s game, they held 57.4% possession but managed only 10 shots with an expected goals (xG) of 0.46 compared to Ecuador’s 0.85 xG from nine attempts. Despite Rodrygo and Alisson stepping up when needed, such performances suggest that qualifying for the 2026 World Cup will be challenging for the five-time champions.

This victory allowed Brazil to leapfrog Ecuador in the standings, moving them to fourth place with ten points from seven matches. The result was crucial for maintaining their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.

The Selecao’s inability to convert possession into meaningful chances remains a concern. Their attacking spark seems missing, which could make their path to the World Cup arduous despite this important win.

Overall, while Brazil managed to secure three points against Ecuador thanks to key contributions from Rodrygo and Alisson, their overall performance leaves much room for improvement as they continue their qualification campaign.