Rodrygo strike hands Brazil much-needed win
A deflected first-half strike from Rodrygo handed Brazil a crucial 1-0 victory over Ecuador as it halted a three-match losing run in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
Dorival Junior's team approached the game off the pace in the CONMEBOL qualification group, sitting sixth after defeats to Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina in late 2023.
It produced another disjointed performance in Curitiba and was indebted to Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, who struck the winner on the half-hour mark.
Taking Lucas Paqueta's pass on the turn 25 yards from goal, Rodrygo cut on to his right foot before seeing his effort strike William Pacho and nestle in the bottom-left corner.
Rodrygo went close to a second six minutes later but it was far from smooth sailing for the hosts, who needed a huge save from Alisson to preserve their lead on the stroke of half-time.
The Liverpool goalkeeper made himself big to deny Moises Caicedo when one-on-one in what proved to be Ecuador's best chance, as Brazil leapfrogged its opponent to go fourth on the table with 10 points from seven matches.
Brazil was flat and unimpressive at the Copa America, and there were few signs of the Selecao rediscovering its attacking spark here.
It enjoyed 57.4 per cent of the possession against Ecuador but could only convert that into 10 shots tallying 0.46 expected goals (xG), to Ecuador's 0.85 xG from nine attempts.
Rodrygo and Alisson stepped up in the moments that mattered for Brazil, but performances like these will ensure even reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a slog for the five-time winner.
