Willian scored after 40 seconds and added a second just before the break as Brazil beat Venezuela 3-1 to pocket their first points in South American qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

After their 2-0 defeat to Chile last week, Brazil, again without the suspended Neymar, raced out of the blocks at the Castelao in Fortaleza and Willian slotted home between Venezuela goalkeeper Alain Baroja and his near post.

Also Read

Three minutes before halftime the midfielder doubled Brazil's lead. Defender Filipe Luis crossed the ball, Oscar let it run and Willian tucked it away.

Venezuela pulled one back in the 64th minute when Christian Santos turned the ball into the net at a corner but striker Ricardo Oliveira restored Brazil's two-goal cushion nine minutes later, ghosting in behind defender Fernando Amorebieta and stooping to head past Baroja.

It was a timely win for Dunga's Brazil ahead of their visit to Buenos Aires next month to play archrivals Argentina, who have yet to score in two games.

The 2014 World Cup finalists were stunned 2-0 by Ecuador in their opener and held 0-0 in Paraguay on Tuesday.

Dunga will be able to call on Neymar for that match after he completed his suspension from the Copa America, while Argentina will hope Lionel Messi recovers from an injury that has kept him out of their two qualifiers so far.

Argentina remain winless in South American qualifying for the 2018 World Cup after struggling to a 0-0 in Paraguay, while Uruguay and Ecuador both made it two wins from two games to top the group.

Uruguay beat a poor Colombia 3-0 while Ecuador, who stunned Argentina in Buenos Aires five days ago, scored a 2-0 home win over Bolivia.

Uruguay top the 10-nation group on goal difference from Ecuador and Chile, who beat Peru 4-3, each with six points, Paraguay have four and Colombia have three.

Without the injured Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez was tasked with leading the Argentina attack in Asuncion and headed a good Angel Di Maria cross just over the bar.

Tevez then suffered a broken nose early in the second half when he was hit by defender Victor Caceres's elbow going for a high ball and spent four minutes being bandaged up before returning the fray.

He was eventually substituted in the 75th minute.

Uruguay moved top of the group after an easy win over Colombia side missing James Rodriguez and who had Juan Cuadrado sent off in the dying moments at the Centenario.

They took the lead after 33 minutes when centre back Godin rose to bullet home a header from a Carlos Sanchez corner kick.

Rolan added a second six minutes into the second half when he took a cross from Nicolas Lodeiro and deftly chipped the ball over Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.

Hernandez got a third after 87 minutes when he wrestled free from a defender and hammered home from a tight angle.

Ecuador, still on a high after their win in Buenos Aires, overcame the elements and a stuffy Bolivia side to win in Quito.

Torrential rain made the pitch almost unplayable during the opening period with huge puddles dotting the surface.

But the rain eased in the second half and Miller Bolanos got the first goal in the 81st minute when he played a one-two with Juan Cazares and skilfully slipped the ball under the advancing goalkeeper.

Felipe Caicedo added a second from the penalty spot in injury time after he was felled in the box.

Meanwhile, in the Euro qualifiers, the Netherlands failed to reach the European Championship finals for the first time since 1984 when they lost 3-2 at home to the Czech Republic to miss out on next year's tournament in France.

The Dutch had to beat the Czechs and hope Turkey lost at home to Iceland to come third in Group A and win a playoff spot.

The Netherlands, who finished third at last year's World Cup in Brazil, were crowned European champions in 1988 and were third in 1992, 2000 and 2004. They went out at the group stage of the last edition in Poland and Ukraine in 2012.