MONTEVIDEO – Brazil’s star forward Neymar left the field in distress, after suffering what seemed like a serious knee injury during their 2-0 loss to hosts Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
The Selecao were trailing to Darwin Nunez’s opening goal when Neymar went down after a tackle from behind by Nicolas de la Cruz in the 44th minute.
The 31-year-old held his left leg in pain and called for medical attention as his teammates looked on anxiously. After receiving treatment for several minutes, he left the pitch on a stretcher with his hands cupping his face.
Brazil football federation sources said the Al-Hilal striker, who was then replaced by Richarlison, had suffered a severe left knee sprain and would undergo tests to determine if there was ligament damage.
“Let’s hope it’s nothing serious,” Brazil captain and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro told Globo television.
“He’s an important player for us, we’re very fond of him. He’s been suffering a lot from injuries and when he started to pick up the pace, he got injured again.”
With the win at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, Marcelo Bielsa’s side moved to joint-second in South America’s 10-team table, ahead of Brazil and Venezuela on goal difference. After four matches, all three teams have seven points, with world champions Argentina five points ahead.
This was Uruguay’s first win over Brazil in World Cup qualifying since 2001, with the Selecao ending the match with no shots on target as they suffered their first defeat in a World Cup qualifier since 2015 after going 37 games unbeaten.
Nunez opened the scoring in the 42nd minute with a bullet header that beat goalkeeper Ederson at his near post following Maximiliano Araujo’s cross from the left flank.
De la Cruz then doubled the hosts’ lead 13 minutes from time as he slotted home a close-range effort following Nunez’s cross.
Over at the Estadio Monumental in Maturin, Santos midfielder Yeferson Soteldo scored one goal and set up another as hosts Venezuela cruised to a 3-0 victory over 10-man Chile.
Soteldo rifled a low shot into the far corner after Jose Martinez intercepted an errant Paulo Diaz pass. He then turned provider as his mazy run and cut-back from the left gave Salomon Rondon an easy tap-in at the near post.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men just before the hour when Marcelino Nunez was shown a second yellow card for dissent just moments after he was booked for a rough challenge on Cristian Casseres.
Substitute Darwin Machis put the result beyond doubt by sweeping home from close range after Casseres headed on Soteldo’s cross.
In Quito, hosts Ecuador held Colombia to a goal-less draw, while Paraguay pipped visiting bottom team Bolivia 1-0 in Asuncion.
Colombia, who have six points, are fifth in the table, followed by Ecuador, Paraguay and Chile on four points each. REUTERS, XINHUA
