Brazil, who have never failed to reach the World Cup finals, were stunned 3-0 by a rampant Chilean side in a South American World Cup qualifier on Tuesday in Santiago. The result leaves Wanderly Luxemburgo's men hanging on to the fourth and final automatic qualifying spot.
However, should Paraguay overcome group leaders Argentina overnight, the Brazilians would find themselves in an embarrassing fifth position. The side which finishes fifth in the South American qualifiers will have to play-off against the winner from the Oceania zone to reach the World Cup finals.
"I feel like the rest of the Brazilian population: sad," said Luxemburgo as he arrived at Sao Paulo airport following the flight from Santiago. "All Brazilians and all the players are ashamed of what happened yesterday in Santiago," said Rivaldo, who once again failed to live up to his billing as World Player of the Year.
Brazil's proud record of never having lost a qualifying match is now in tatters after losing two of their last three games, the other defeat coming against Paraguay.
Lazio striker Marcelo Salas made a triumphant return to Santiago after missing the last two matches through suspension and set the National Stadium alight setting up the first goal and scoring the third to send 65,000 fans delirious with joy. Early first-half pressure from Chile led to Salas picking up the ball down the right where he found Fabian Estay who made no mistake to open the scoring after 26 minutes.
Then, just before half-time, came the turning point. A dreadful error from Brazilian defender Antonio Carlos, who was dispossessed just outside the box, enabled Chile to run at goal and some quick passing enabled Ivan Zamorano to slam the ball home from close range and give Chile a vital two-goal advantage.
It was Zamorano's fourth goal of the qualifying campaign and makes him joint top-scorer with Rivaldo, who was kept in check by the battling duo of Rodrigo Tello and Estay as Chile controlled midfield.
The final nail in the Brazilian coffin came with 15 minutes to go and has perhaps sealed the fate of Luxemburgo. Once again Chile won the ball in midfield and swept down the right. A long ball to the far post found man-of-the-match Salas, who controlled the ball skilfully on his chest before volleying home an unstoppable left foot shot.
Until that third goal Brazil had threatened to get back into the match with clear opportunities. in front of goal but Rivaldo as well as Roberto Carlos and Luizo Marques all squandered chance.
It was Brazil's worst defeat since the mauling they suffered at the hands of France by the same scoreline during the 1998 World Cup final.
At the El Campin stadium in Bogota, Colombia won a tense match 1-0 to move up to second in the group thanks to a 72nd-minute goal from Jairo Castillo. Castillo picked up the ball 10 yards outside the box, managed to find space between the static Uruguayan defenders and unleashed a leftfoot shot that found the bottom corner.
