Brazil 2-0 Ecuador: Paulinho and Philippe Coutinho are on target in Porto Alegre as Selecao guarantee qualifying top spot
- Paulinho and Philippe Coutinho scored as Brazil edged out Ecuador
- The home side continued their impressive form in World Cup qualifying
- They have guaranteed top spot with three matches remaining
Brazil's fine form in World Cup qualifying continued as they edged out Ecuador to guarantee top spot in the CONMEBOL table.
Second-half goals from Paulinho and Philippe Coutinho - who shone on his appearance off the bench - were enough for the home side in Porto Alegre.
The Selecao dominated from the off and could have had two or three more but for some wastefulness in front of goal and several saves from Ecuador goalkeeper Maximo Banguera.
Paulinho celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game for Brazil against Ecuador
Paulinho drilled the ball beyond goalkeeper Maximo Banguera to put his side in front
The goal came after more than an hour of frustration for the Brazilians in Porto Alegre
Philippe Coutinho wheels away in celebration after scoring his side's second goal of the game
However, they now hold an 11-point lead over nearest challengers Colombia with just three matches of the qualifying campaign remaining.
Ecuador, meanwhile, can still reach the Russia finals themselves despite defeat.
They are three points off the last automatic qualification place, currently occupied by Chile - who lost at home to Paraguay.
Paulinho and Willian spurned early chances for the Selecao, for whom Coutinho started on the bench amid reports of another massive bid from Barcelona for his services, as the hosts quickly moved into the ascendancy.
Ecuador couldn't get a foothold in the game, and instead resorted to physicality to make an impression on the home team.
Brazil were infuriated by a reckless challenge on Neymar by Fidel Martinez, who scissor-tackled the PSG forward to the floor midway through the opening period, but referee Mario Diaz de Vivar ruled a yellow card sufficed.
The Selecao came again. Casemiro tested visiting goalkeeper Maximo Banguera from range before Gabriel Jesus and Renato Augusto also tested the Ecuadorian stopper.
Brazil overwhelmed their opponents with slick, quick passing play in Porto Alegre
Paulinho is congratulated by PSG's world-record signing Neymar after his goal
Goalkeeper Alisson of Brazil in action against Ecuador during the first half of the clash
Real Madrid's Marcelo sees off the challenge of Manchester United's Antonio Valencia
Ecuador's Fernando Gaibor controls the ball as Brazil's Willian looks on
Already qualified Brazil extended their lead at the top after Colombia drew 0-0 with Venezuela
But the away side survived through to half-time without conceding.
Coutinho was introduced to the action with just over half an hour, as Brazil pushed for a way through the Ecuadorian backline, and with 22 minutes remaining, however, the hosts went ahead.
A right-wing corner fell to the feet of Paulinho six yards out and he powered his strike through Banguera's grasp and into the back of the net.
Eight minutes later, they had their second.
Coutinho picked out Gabriel Jesus with a sumptuous dinked throughball, and the Manchester City man juggled inside the box before heading into Coutinho's path.
The Liverpool man - will we still be saying that come Friday night? - did the rest.
Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus goes for the ball against Pedro Velasco
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