Willian and Brazil, Miazga and USA give up leads and settle for draws

Brazil had built an early 2-0 lead on Friday against Uruguay in 2018 World Cup qualifying action but had to settle for a draw after both sides tried to one-up each other in horrendous defending and silly mistakes (perhaps not unexpected from a backline of Dani Alves, Miranda, David Luiz, and Filipe Luis).  In the end, Brazil were probably lucky to escape with a 2-2 draw, with Luis Suarez and Christian Stuani wasting fantastic chances for the visitors in the final five minutes.

By that time, Chelsea's only active participant in the game, Willian, had departed the scene, replaced by Lucas Lima.  Oscar stayed on the bench throughout.  Willian did play a key role in Brazil's first-minute opener, setting up Douglas Costa after one of those most typical of Willian plays on the right wing: a shake, a shimmy, a bit of a delay, a quick move, and a cross into a dangerous area.

Renato Augusto added a second from a great Neymar throughball, but goals from Cavani and Suarez on either side of half-time meant that Uruguay got a share of the points.  Brazil now have won just two of their last five games and the pressure's mounting on head coach Dunga.

Elsewhere, center back Matt Miazga helped the USA to a credible 1-1 away draw against a dominant Colombia side in 2016 Olympic Games qualifying action.  The two teams will play a second leg on Tuesday to determine the final participant in the 16-team olympic tournament in Rio de Janeiro.  Away goals count.

In other meaningful action, loanee Michael Hector's Jamaica had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their World Cup qualifying match against Costa Rica.  To fit with the theme of the day, they, too had taken the lead before the favored visitors got a second half equalizer.

Last and least, backup goalkeeper Asmir Begovic got himself a bit of game-time, playing the first half of Bosnia and Herzegovina's 3-0 win over Luxembourg.