Agency :
Rodrygo struck a first-half winner as Brazil ended a four-game winless streak in World Cup qualifiers with 1-0 home victory over Ecuador on Saturday.
The 23-year-old put his side ahead on the half-hour when he controlled Lucas Paqueta’s pass with his back to goal and skipped around his opponent before lashing a low 20-yard drive into the far corner.
Ecuador had their chances to equalize and enjoyed large periods of dominance in the second half but lacked decisiveness in the final third.
The result at Couto Pereira stadium in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba lifted Brazil to fourth in the South American qualifying group with 10 points from seven outings, eight points behind leaders Argentina.
Ecuador are sixth in the 10-team standings, two points further back.
“We had four negative results in a row in the qualifiers and we faced a team that had only been beaten once in this competition, by Argentina and in Argentina,” Brazil manager Dorival Junior told a post-match news conference.
“I think people need to be more aware of the situation we are in, of the team we have assembled and of the first half we played. We went after the result, we made changes in the second half to maintain what we had built. I think it is all a matter of time, we are at a point where we are rebuilding our team,” he added.
Dorival called on fans and the media to be patient with Rodrygo’s Real Madrid teammate Vinicius Junior, who struggled to make an impact against Ecuador.
Despite his consistent form at club level over several seasons, the 24-year-old forward has managed only five goals in 34 appearances for Brazil.
“We always place such high expectations on our young players but we have to remember that are going through a learning process,” Dorival said. “We have to be calm because I have no doubt that he will make a huge difference with the ability that he has.”
Brazil will conclude the double header of qualifiers with a clash against Paraguay in Asuncion on October 10 while Ecuador will face Peru in Quito the same day.