Vinicius Saves Brazil In The Final Minute Against Colombia

Vinicius Junior scored Brazil's decisive goal over Colombia in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers (Instagram/@cbf_futebol).

JAKARTA - Vinicius Junior's last-minute goal ensured Brazil's 2-1 win over Colombia in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers on Friday, March 21, 2025. He helped his team and millions of fans avoid further disappointment.

Brazil appeared more excited than the previous match, with high speed, skill, and early goals from the penalty spot showing that coach Dorival Junior had found a lineup of core players to complete the task.

However, then the defense error put everything at stake for the hosts in Brasilia until the brilliant moment by Vinicius Junior.

Raphinha scored in the sixth minute after Vinicius Junior was fouled in the penalty box. After that, Brazil still had the ball, but did not put any real pressure on adding a second goal to the presence of 70,000 fans.

Colombia equalized through Luis Diaz's cross in the 41st minute after substitute Joeliton, who replaced the injured Gerson, lost the ball on the edge of the Brazilian penalty box.

The two teams struggled to maintain accuracy in the second half until Vinicius Junior fired a long-range shot that hit Jefferson Lerma and outwit goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

"This is very important, we deserved to win. I also deserve this goal for everything I have fought for. It was a bit of relief, a little happiness," Vinicius Junior said after the game.

Calculations before the match, a draw will see Brazil slump to sixth in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers standings in the Conmebol Zone.

In contrast, the victory saw Brazil move up to second behind Argentina after Vinicius Junior's long-range goal.

The top six teams are guaranteed a place at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the US, and Mexico so that the victory sent pressure on Brazil's Dorival Junior ahead of next week's match against Argentina.

You see, the Samba Team's qualifying for the finals is increasingly open, which means opening up the five-time world champion chance has never been absent from the World Cup.

However, Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and defender Gabriel Magalhaes got a yellow card against Colombia and will miss the match in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

Lionel Scaloni's Argentina squad had 25 points after 12 games - four points ahead of Brazil (21 points from 13 matches) - and almost secured his place at the 2026 World Cup.

Argentina will play without Lionel Messi against Uruguay on Saturday, March 22, 2025, morning WIB, four days before the scheduled match against Brazil.

The last time the two South American giants met, Argentina won 1-0 at the Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, in 2023.