Terceros penalty sends Bolivia into World Cup playoffs

Miguel Terceros converted a first-half penalty as Bolivia secured a World Cup playoff spot with a 1-0 home win over Brazil on Tuesday.

On the final day of South American qualifiers, Venezuela - which needed a win to keep alive its hopes of reaching a maiden World Cup - suffered a 6-3 home defeat to Colombia.

Bolivia will now compete in a six-team intercontinental playoff tournament next March, which will decide the last two World Cup places.

The Verde will aim to join Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay as South America's representatives at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

In Tuesday's other fixtures, Ecuador beat Argentina 1-0 in Guayaquil, Uruguay drew 0-0 away to Chile and Paraguay clinched a 1-0 victory over Peru in Lima.

The day's decisive result came in El Alto, more than 4,000 meters above sea level, where Terceros sealed Bolivia's victory with his seventh goal of these qualifiers.

The 21-year-old sent his spot-kick past goalkeeper Alisson after Bruno Guimaraes was penalized for a foul on Roberto Fernandez.

Brazil had Alisson to thank for not falling further behind as Bolivia registered 10 shots on target while the five-time world champions managed only three.

The win means Bolivia will vie for a berth in its first World Cup finals since the 1994 tournament in the United States.

"This group of players deserves this," Terceros said after the match at the Estadio Municipal. "We've been working hard for a long time and this is a reflection of that."

While Bolivia celebrated, Venezuela was left to lament as four goals from Luis Diaz gave Colombia victory in Maturin.

Telasco Segovia handed the hosts the lead by firing into the far corner after Salomon Rondon's layoff. Former Barcelona defender Yerry Mina equalized with a header after a James Rodriguez corner.

The game was played at a frantic pace and Venezuela restored its advantage two minutes later through Josef Martinez, who bundled home from point-blank range after goalkeeper Kevin Mier failed to deal with Segovia's cross.

Colombia was level again just before halftime as Diaz pounced on a loose ball to score from the edge of the six-yard box.

The urgency continued after the restart and Diaz put his side ahead by combining with Rodriguez before sending a low drive into the far corner.

Diaz completed his hat-trick just before the hour, firing an 18-yard shot that beat goalkeeper Rafael Romo at his near post.

The 27-year-old Sporting Lisbon forward was irrepressible, making it 5-2 with a 67th-minute tap-in following Richard Rios' cross.

Venezuela pulled one back through Rondon, who finished from close range after Jefferson Savarino's shot from distance was parried away by Mier.

But Colombia put the result beyond doubt as Juan Fernando Quintero set up Jhon Cordoba, whose first-time finish left Romo with no chance.

The result meant Colombia finished the CONMEBOL qualifying tournament in third place, behind Argentina and Ecuador.

Elsewhere, Enner Valencia scored in the first half to give Ecuador victory over Argentina in Guayaquil, where both teams finished with 10 men.

The reigning World Cup and Copa America champions suffered a setback in the 31st minute when Nicolas Otamendi was shown a straight red card for bringing down Valencia as the forward broke clear.

The Ecuador captain broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime after Angelo Preciado was fouled by Nicolas Tagliafico.

The hosts were also reduced to 10 men shortly after the restart after Moises Caicedo received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Nico Gonzalez.

Argentina, which rested captain Lionel Messi for the clash at Estadio Monumental, finished top of the 10-team group, nine points ahead of second-placed Ecuador.

In Lima, a 78th-minute strike from River Plate midfielder Matias Galarza gave Paraguay a 1-0 win over Peru. The result left Paraguay sixth in the standings with 28 points, 16 clear of ninth-placed Peru.

In Santiago, Uruguay secured fourth place with a goalless stalemate that left Chile bottom with two wins from 18 games.