Real Madrid star James Rodriguez returned to snatch a draw for Colombia against Chile on Thursday as Argentina and Brazil's long-awaited World Cup qualifying clash was postponed by torrential rain. Rodriguez, who missed Colombia's opening two 2018 World Cup qualifiers last month through injury, pounced in the 68th minute to help give his team a precious point in a 1-1 draw with the Copa America champions in Santiago.
Chile, who dominated possession for long periods but struggled to break down a disciplined Colombian defence, had taken the lead on the stroke of half-time through a headed Arturo Vidal effort. In other games Thursday, surprise package Ecuador defeated Uruguay 2-1 to maintain their 100 percent start to the qualifying campaign after three matches.
Ecuador, shock winners over Argentina in Buenos Aires last month, secured all three points through Fidel Martinez's second-half winner. Uruguay, missing suspended superstar Luis Suarez - still serving a ban for his infamous bite at the 2014 World Cup - struggled to contain a vibrant Ecuador side, comfortable in the challenging thin Andean air of Quito, some 9,000-feet above sea level. Ecuador took the lead on 23 minutes through Felipe Caicedo, the Espanyol striker coolly tucking away a low cross from Juan Paredes on the right flank. But Uruguay levelled four minutes after half-time through returning striker Edinson Cavani, the Paris Saint-Germain forward heading home from Nicolas Lodeiro's perfectly flighted free-kick.
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