FIVE-TIME world champion Brazil was fortunate to be two goals up at half time in Montevideo after Uruguay had hit the woodwork twice at either end of the half.

The 2-0 victory left Brazil on top of South America’s qualifying standings on 12 points with four wins from four games. Uruguay has six points from four matches.

Edinson Cavani’s sending off with 20 minutes to go capped a miserable night for his side.

Chilean referee Roberto Tobar showed him a yellow card after his lunge caught Richarlison on the ankle. But after a VAR check, that changed to red, leaving Cavani incredulous, and he left the pitch reluctantly.

Brazil almost drew first blood after two minutes of a lively opening, when Uruguay keeper Martin Campana parried a close range shot from Gabriel Jesus after the Manchester City striker bought a meter of space on the edge of the six-meter box. Uruguay’s Darwin Nunez, turned Brazil full-back Danilo inside the area and rattled Ederson’s bar after a neat pass from River Plate’s Nico De La Cruz.

Uruguay fashioned another gilt-edged chance when Nathan Nandez’s cross from the right was headed over by Cavani.

Brazil finally broke through with its first real chance in half an hour. Feeding on a slick layoff from Gabriel Jesus, Arthur’s shot from outside the area took a wicked deflection off the back of Uruguay defender Jose Gimenez, wrongfooting the luckless Campana, who could only watch it bounce into the net.(SD-Agencies)

(SD-Agencies)