Brazil triumphed over Colombia with a scoreline of 2-1 on March 20, 2025, at the Estádio Mané Garrincha in Brasília, during the 13th round of the South American qualifiers for the World Cup. The victory was marked by an early goal from Raphinha and a spectacular late-game effort from Vinícius Júnior.
The match saw Brazil quickly establish dominance, as Vinícius Júnior was fouled in the box just six minutes into the game, earning a penalty kick. Raphinha stepped up to take the penalty, converting it with precision to put Brazil on the board early.
However, the first half presented challenges for Brazil. Midfielder Gerson, who had been showing promise in the opening stages, suffered a muscular injury after only 27 minutes of play. He was visibly distressed as he left the field and was replaced by Joelinton. Subsequently, this disruption allowed Colombia to gain momentum. In the 41st minute, a mistake by Joelinton led to the equalizer from Colombia's Luis Díaz, who made no mistake with his finish.
The second half saw increased pressure from both sides, and Brazil struggled to reclaim control. The physical approach from Colombia included several fouls aimed at disrupting Brazil’s rhythm. In the 34th minute of the second half, Brazilian coach Dorival Júnior introduced Wesley, the Flamengo right-back, to inject energy into the squad.
Wesley’s entrance proved pivotal as he added a dynamic edge to Brazil's offensive play, making several key passes and contributing to the build-up for the eventual winning goal. Vinícius Júnior, who had drawn the initial penalty, became the hero of the night, scoring a stunning long-range shot in stoppage time that sent the home fans into a frenzy, sealing the 2-1 victory for Brazil.
A noteworthy moment in the match was Léo Ortiz's debut for Brazil, as he substituted onto the pitch in the closing minutes. With the win, Brazil climbed to second place in the qualifiers with 21 points.
The Brazilian team is set to face a formidable opponent next, as they prepare to play Argentina on March 25, 2025, at the Monumental de Núñez stadium. However, concerns loom regarding Gerson’s injury, as tests are expected to confirm the severity and whether he will be able to participate against Internacional in the Brazilian League on March 29.
Following the match, controversy surfaced regarding a social media post from ESPN Brazil that appeared to mock Wesley for a mistake during practice. The tweet, which showed a clip of Wesley misplaying a ball during training with an ironically upbeat caption, sparked outrage among fans who saw it as an unnecessary dig at the player.
This clash against Colombia has not just boosted Brazil's points but also their confidence, with stakeholders realizing the potential of the young players like Vinícius Júnior and Wesley. As the countdown to the match against Argentina begins, fans are eagerly anticipating how Brazil will respond to the challenge, especially with roster adjustments looming due to Gerson’s uncertain status.
With both excitement and concern surrounding the squad, attention turns to how Dorival Júnior will prepare his team for the high-stakes encounter against Argentina, a match steeped in rivalry and significance in the qualifiers.
