Gio, Cuti play their part in historic win for Argentina against Royal's Brazil
Wed 22 November 2023, 10:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Gio Lo Celso and Cristian Romero faced Emerson Royal as three Spurs team-mates all started one of world football's fiercest rivalries - the Superclásico - at Brazil's famous Maracana in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
In the end, Gio and Cuti took the honours for reigning world champions Argentina, who won 1-0 against Royal's Brazil in the latest round of South American (CONMEBOL) qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
It was the first time Brazil had lost a World Cup qualifying match at home.
Despite the result, Brazil had the better of it in Rio de Janeiro, with Gio and Cuti involved in two key incidents. First up, Cuti cleared off the line from a huge chance that fell to Gabriel Martinelli from a corner just before half-time.
Then the decisive action as Gio pinged in an outswinging corner from the left in the 63rd minute, met by a bullet header home from Nicolas Otamendi. That proved Argentina's only effort on target.
Picking up his 48th cap, Gio was substituted on 70 minutes with both Cuti (28 caps) and Emerson (10 caps) completing a full shift.
The result moved Argentina two points clear at the top of the table from Rodrigo Bentancur's Uruguay. Meanwhile, five-time World Cup winners Brazil have now lost three successive qualifiers to sit sixth, eight points adrift of the leaders.
