Brazil beat Paraguay to advance in RWC Qualifiers

Brazil defeated Paraguay 29-0 this evening in São José dos Campos. Moisés Duque was Brazil’s hero both in point scoring and general play. Os Tupis’ victory sees them advancing in the RWC 2023 qualifiers. For Paraguay defeat means elimination.

Brazil kicked-off and quickly put Paraguay under pressure. It gave them the ball and a quick penalty. Center Moisés Duque made no mistake his his regulation shot at goal. Paraguay had an opportunity to respond. Rather than kick for goal they ran only to then attempt a drop-goal.

Paraguay were playing a tight game; one that saw them playing to their strengths. It put Brazil on the back foot as Los Yakarés were able to have the better of territory and possession in the opening quarter.

Points did not come though. Paraguay’s second opportunity was a 24th minute penalty. Sebastián Urbieta’s attempt from half-way was short. He missed again seven minutes later. It followed Brazil losing Gabriel Paganini to a yellow card.

Paraguay were not scoring but were threatening. Juan González demonstrated Paraguay’s gain from SLAR as he made a break from fullback and went close to scoring. Brazil held on, though continued to play inside their own half.

In addition to the opening shot from Duque, Brazil had four first-half raids into Paraguay’s 22. Los Yakarés won turnovers on three of the four occasions. The fourth saw Os Tupis winning a penalty. Duque’s boot converted it into three points.

Brazil started the second-half well. Having quickly gotten deep into the Paraguayan 22. Duque showed his awareness to land a simple drop-goal from 10 meters out in front of the posts. Pressure saw Brazil winning another penalties. Duque took advantage to land two third quarter drop-goals.

Fitness worked against Paraguay. Los Yakarés forwards were tired. It saw changes and the result was a weakened scrum. Brazil was able to then win penalties; ultimately, converting one into the game’s opening try. Lucas Spago darted over for a solo score. He evidently lifted Brazil after an off-day from Joshua Reeves.

The try ended the contest; Paraguay were tired and beaten. With time up a second try was scored. Captain Felipe Sancery ran in to give the home side a memorable final quarter and comprehensive RWC qualifying victory.

Paraguay lost; albeit, this was their best performance against Brazil for quite some time. They were competitive and have evidently benefited from SLAR. Brazil now await the winner of Chile vs Colombia to see who will join them in Montevideo to face Uruguay in next month’s triangular RWC 2023 qualifying tournament.

 

SCORING

BRAZIL 29
Tries – L. Spago (64′), F. Sancery (80′)
Pens – M. Duque 3/3 (2′, 40′, 49′)
Cons – M. Duque 2/2 (65′, 80′)
Drop goals – M. Duque 2/2 (42′, 56′)
Yellow cards – G. Paganini (28′)

PARAGUAY 0
Pens – S. Urbieta 0/2
Drop goals – S. Urbieta 0/1
Yellow cards – C. Orrego (54′)

 

TEAMS

BRAZIL
1 Caíque Silva (17 Leonel Moreno 54′), 2 Yan Rosetti (16 Leonardo de Souza 70′), 3 Matheus Rocha (18 Jardel Vettorato 54′), 4 Matteo Dell’Acqua, 5 Gabriel Paganini (19 Felipe Rosa 63′), 6 Cléber Días, 7 Matheus Cláudio, 8 André Arruda (20 Adrio de Melo 63′), 9 Felipe Cunha (21 Douglas Rauth 63′), 10 Josh Reeves (22 Lucas Spago 59′), 11 Daniel Lima, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery (capt.), 14 Lucas Tranquez (23 Lorenzo Massari 63′), 15 Daniel Sancery

PARAGUAY
1 Daniel Cabral (18 Enrique Quinteros 55′), 2 Lucas Otaño (16 Gastón Salvi 78′), 3 Martín Sitjar (capt.) (17 Camilo Blasco 78′), 4 Mariano Garcete (19 Leonardo Glizt 75′), 5 Alejandro Montiel, 6 Mateo Rodríguez, 7 Carlos Plate (20 Ariel Nuñez 68′), 8 Marcos Riquelme, 9 Gonzalo Bareiro (21 Gastón Navas 68′), 10 Sebastián Urbieta, 11 Renato Cardona, 12 Camilo Orrego, 13 Diego Argaña (23 Daniel Chilavert 68′), 14 Marcelo Matiauda (22 Tomás Mussi 78′), 15 Juan González

 

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)
Assistants: Cauá Ricardo (Brazil) & Víctor Barbosa (Brazil)
TMO: Alejandro Longres (Uruguay)