Soccer: Brazil could face World Cup play-off

Brazil could face a play-off against Australia for the right to figure in next year’s World Cup finals after blowing the chance of automatic qualification with a 3-1 loss to Bolivia in La Paz.

The four-time World Cup winners received an early boost when Edilson put them ahead after 25 minutes but the home side were level just before the break thanks to Lider Paz.

Julio Cesar Baldivieso then put Bolivia in front after 70 minutes and finished Brazil off with a third from the penalty spot with just two minutes to go.

Brazil must now beat Venezuela next Wednesday to book their trip to Japan and South Korea, with Uruguay and Colombia waiting in the wings should they slip up.

With one round of qualification matches remaining, Brazil are fourth in the South American Group with 27 points, one ahead of Uruguay and three clear of Colombia.

Uruguay were held 1-1 by Ecuador overnight while Aston Villa forward Juan Pablo Angel was on the scoresheet as Colombia beat Chile 3-1.

Those results mean that Paraguay and Ecuador have joined runaway group leaders Argentina in qualifying for the finals - the top four progressing automatically and the fifth-best team facing the Oceania Group winners in a play-off.