Argentina and Brazil lose opening World Cup qualifiers

Argentina and Brazil got off to a miserable start to their World Cup qualifying campaign with defeat on Thursday.

The battle for progression to the Russia World Cup in 2018 began in unexpected style as Argentina, missing injured Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, were surprisingly beaten 2-0 at home by Ecuador, 30 places lower in the FIFA rankings.

To compound Argentina's misery, Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero limped off injured midway through the first half and will miss next Tuesday's match away to Paraguay.

Frickson Erazo got Ecuador's opener on

80 minutes in Buenos Aires and Felipe Caicedo doubled their lead a minute later.

"It's no use just looking at the score," Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano said. "We were never superior to them.

"We could never find answers to the problems that Ecuador gave us, we were never comfortable."

Things were no better for five-time World Cup champions Brazil, who went to Chile looking to rebuild their reputation after being hammered 7-1 by eventual winners Germany in last year's semi-final.

However, coach Dunga's side could not match the relentless running of a Chilean team that had the momentum with them after winning the Copa America in July.

Hoffenheim striker Eduardo Vargas volleyed home on 72 minutes before Arsenal's in-form Alexis Sanchez got a second from close-range in the final seconds.

Earlier in the evening, Uruguay, Paraguay and Colombia all made winning starts to their campaigns.

Uruguay beat Bolivia for the first time in 10 qualifiers in La Paz.

Defenders Martin Caceres and Diego Godin scored for Uruguay in the absence of suspended strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, while the frustrated Bolivians had Jair Torrico sent off.

World Cup quarter-finalists Colombia coped well without injured playmaker James Rodriguez to overcome Peru thanks to goals from Teofilo Gutierrez and substitute Edwin Cardona.

Paraguay, recovering from their disappointment at not reaching the 2014 tournament in Brazil, scored a late winner from Derlis Gonzalez in a 1-0 win at Venezuela.

The qualifiers continue next Tuesday, with Argentina away at Paraguay, Brazil at home to Venezuela and Ecuador looking to build on their great start at home to Bolivia.

Uruguay take on Colombia in Montevideo and Peru host Chile.