A resounding moment reverberated across the Maracana as Argentina, the reigning world champions, dealt Brazil their inaugural home defeat in a World Cup qualifier. The intense clash, postponed by thirty minutes due to incidents in the stands, witnessed Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, not taking center stage. Instead, it was Otamendi who secured the Albiceleste’s victory with a formidable header from a corner in the 63rd minute.
😳 Cette nuit, la police brésilienne s’en est pris aux supporters argentins présents au Maracana pour la rencontre opposant le Brésil à l’Argentine !
— Cerfia Foot (@CerfiaFoot) November 22, 2023
Scène terrible… 😞
pic.twitter.com/23wkw2bjol
This triumph at the iconic Brazilian football hub in Rio de Janeiro ensured Argentina’s ongoing lead in the South American qualifying standings for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It marked a swift rebound after their 2-0 setback against Uruguay, their first defeat since clinching the World Cup title in Qatar.
Conversely, Brazil faces a challenging situation, enduring their third consecutive loss following defeats to Uruguay and Colombia. Coach Fernando Diniz’s squad has slipped to the sixth position, the final spot for direct qualification to the World Cup.
The Maracana witnessed confrontations between Brazilian and Argentine supporters in the stands, resulting in police interventions and numerous injuries. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez sought to intervene, sharing his sentiments with the police, but his teammates intervened to diffuse the situation. Amid the turmoil, Argentina inflicted Brazil’s first-ever home defeat in a World Cup qualifier.
The staging of the “superclasico” hung in the balance as Argentinian players briefly exited the field, retreating to the changing rooms due to clashes between fans from both sides. The confrontations were quashed through a robust intervention by the police.
The day before, the Brazilian association of supporters’ groups (Anatorg) had expressed concerns about the absence of a designated section for Argentinian fans at the Maracana. A majority of them had congregated behind one of the goals within the Brazilian crowd.
Put on Argentina v Brazil to see complete chaos happening, game hasn't even kicked off yet and there's riots in the stands 👀🤦♂️ #Argentina #Brazil https://t.co/aovkg0N6Ux
— Owensy (@CryptOOwensy) November 22, 2023
Although kick-off proceeded once order was restored in the stands, an undercurrent of tension persisted on the field. The commencement of the match was marked by significant disorder, with the Brazilian team committing ten fouls and the Argentinians three within the first 20 minutes.
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