Brazil, Argentina march on

Brazil continued their perfect start to the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup with a 2-0 win over Uruguay while rivals Argentina stayed in touch with an easy win in Peru.

First-half goals from Arthur and Richarlison helped Brazil to a 2-0 win over Uruguay, who had Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani sent off.

Argentina, with Lionel Messi pulling the strings, brushed aside a limited Peru 2-0 in Lima, with goals from Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez and Nicholas Gonzalez in a game in which they were never troubled.

Ecuador, playing on their home turf in high-altitude Quito, hammered Colombia 6-1. Paraguay and Bolivia fought out a 2-2 draw while Venezuela -- the only South American team never to qualify for a World Cup finals -- picked up their first points in a 2-1 victory over Chile in Caracas. Victory in Montevideo left Brazil on top of South America's qualifying standings on 12 points with four wins from four games. Argentina are second on 10 points after beating Peru, with surprise team Ecuador third on nine points.

We needed this win, says Messi

In Lima, Nicolas Gonzalez put Argentina ahead with an angled shot in 17 minutes following incisive work from Giovani Lo Ceslo on the left flank and then Lautaro Martinez doubled their lead 11 minutes later when he ran on to a superb pass from Leandro Paredes and rounded the keeper to slot home.

"From the very start we played a great game, the goals came and we created lots of chances," captain Lionel Messi said after the match. "Happy with the victory, we needed it after the game we played the other day," he added in reference to their 1-1 draw at home to Paraguay last week.

"This is the path we have to keep on going down."

The win extended Argentina's unbeaten run to 11 games. It also marked the first time since the year 2000 that the two-time world champions have won three consecutive away qualifiers.

Arthur delighted with Brazil goal

Midfielder Arthur returned to the Brazil side and got the goal that set them on their way to a 2-0 win over Uruguay but the Juventus player said four wins out of four do not mean Brazil can rest on their laurels.

Arthur's first half goal was fortunate as it took a deflection that wrongfooted the Uruguayan keeper, but the stroke of luck came at the right time and helped ease the nerves of a side missing free-scoring Neymar.

"There is always room for improvement," Arthur said. "We are not getting arrogant because we're unbeaten." "We know that every game is difficult and every game different but we are on the right path. Not because we've won but because sometimes we've been playing well.

"We are on the right path, we have total faith in the coaches and they have faith in us."