A superb hat-trick from China-based midfielder Paulinho powered Brazil to a 4-1 drubbing of the Uruguayans in Montevideo to leave the five-time world champions all-but-certain of a place at next year’s finals in Russia.
The Brazilians now lead the 10-team round-robin competition by seven points after their latest win. The top four teams in the standings qualify automatically and with only five rounds remaining, it would take a freakish set of results to deny Brazil.
Uruguay had taken the lead after only nine minutes when Edinson Cavani converted a panlty.
But Paulinho produced a thunderbolt 10 minutes later, uncorking a screamer into the top corner from 25 yards to level at 1-1. The midfielder then put Brazil 2-1 up. Neymar added a third with a sublime chip in the 75th minute. Paulinho completed his hat-trick in injury time.
In Buenos Aires, captain Messi duly delivered when it mattered as Argentina defeated Chile 1-0 to stay in contention.
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