Puerto La Cruz: Striker Humberto Suazo scored twice, including a stoppage-time winner, to give Chile a 3-2 away win over Venezuela in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday.
The goals all came in the final 35 minutes of a pulsating match as Chile picked up their second away win in four days, vindicating coach Marcelo Bielsa's controversial decision to field a young team and leave out several top players.
Giancarlo Maldonado put Venezuela ahead in the 59th minute, Chile replied with a Suazo penalty and a Gonzalo Jara goal and Juan Arango equalised for the hosts with 10 minutes left before Suazo struck again.
Chile, beaten 6-1 by Brazil in a Copa America match at the same stadium last year, moved level with Colombia on 10 points from six games in the 10-team group, one behind Argentina and three adrift of leaders Paraguay.
Brazil, beaten by Paraguay on Sunday and held at home by Argentina on Wednesday, are a modest fifth with nine points, followed by Uruguay on eight, Venezuela on seven and Ecuador on five.
The top four teams qualify directly for South Africa in 2010 and the fifth plays off against the fourth team from the CONCACAF region.
On a slippery pitch and in a passionate atmosphere, Venezuela enjoyed the early pressure but Chile, not afraid to attack away from home, gradually took control and created several openings before the break.
They continued to push forward after halftime and Jean Beausejour had a header cleared off the line by Leonel Vielma after a defensive mix-up.
Against the run of play, Venezuela went ahead when Maldonado's low 30-metre free kick found its way through the Chile wall.
Suazo levelled in the 65th minute, firing a penalty into the roof of the net after Miguel Mea Vitali tripped Alexis Sanchez, and Jara swept in a free kick from Mark Gonzalez eight minutes later.
Arango equalised in the 80th minute, finding a gap between the near post and Claudio Bravo from Maldonado's pass and Venezuela had two good efforts saved by the Chile goalkeeper as they threatened to snatch a winner.
Instead, Chile stole the points when Suazo drilled a low shot past Renny Vega from the edge of the penalty area in the second minute of stoppage-time.
Brazil held by Argentina
Archrivals Brazil and Argentina drew 0-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday but moved closer to leaders Paraguay who lost 4-2 in Bolivia.
Ecuador and Colombia also played out a goalless draw in Quito, leaving the Colombians as the only unbeaten team after six matches in the 10-team group.
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Brazil coach Dunga, whose side lost 2-0 in Paraguay on Sunday, was jeered and insulted by a 52,000 crowd at Belo Horizonte's Mineirao Stadium as Argentina dominated the second half.
Paraguay still lead the standings with 13 points but are only two clear of Argentina.
Colombia are third with 10, followed by Brazil (nine), Uruguay (eight), Venezuela and Chile (seven) and Ecuador (five).
The top four teams qualify directly for South Africa in 2010 and the fifth plays off against the fourth team from the CONCACAF region.
Not finished
Dunga, whose team were again disorganised in midfield, said it was too early to contemplate the possibility of Brazil missing out on a World Cup for the first time.
"The qualifiers don't finish today," he said.
"There are another 12 rounds of games to go." Brazil edged the first half, Julio Baptista producing an outstanding close-range save from Roberto Abbondanzieri.
But Argentina, beaten by three-goal margins in their last three meetings with Brazil, dominated the second.
Julio Cruz and substitute Sergio Aguero missed excellent chances while Lionel Messi was foiled by Julio Cesar and fired wide from the rebound in stoppage-time.
Paraguay, facing high altitude and a shocking pitch in La Paz, finally came unstuck as they lost for the first time in the group against a team who started the day in last place.
Joaquin Botero and Ronald Garcia put previously winless Bolivia 2-0 up in 25 minutes.
In the second half, Botero and Marcelo Martins were on target for the hosts while Roque Santa Cruz and Nelson Haedo Valdez replied for Paraguay.
In Quito, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa decided to show support for his team by staying away.
"I'm not going to watch the game at the stadium, because I believe I bring bad luck to football matches," said Correa, who last year watched Ecuador suffer their first home defeat for six years, at the hands of Venezuela.
Ecuador had slightly the better of the match and should have won when Luis Bolanos fired over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy near the end.
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