- Indonesia considers parole for ex-terror chiefs: official
- Global stocks mostly rise in thin pre-Christmas trade
- Postecoglou says Spurs 'need to reinforce' in transfer window
- Le Pen says days of new French govt numbered
- Global stocks mostly rise after US tech rally
- Villa boss Emery set for 'very difficult' clash with Newcastle
- Investors swoop in to save German flying taxi startup
- How Finnish youth learn to spot disinformation
- South Korean opposition postpones decision to impeach acting president
- 12 killed in blast at Turkey explosives plant
- Panama leaders past and present reject Trump's threat of Canal takeover
- Hong Kong police issue fresh bounties for activists overseas
- Saving the mysterious African manatee at Cameroon hotspot
- India consider second spinner for Boxing Day Test
- London wall illuminates Covid's enduring pain at Christmas
- Poyet appointed manager at South Korea's Jeonbuk
- South Korea's opposition vows to impeach acting president
- The tsunami detection buoys safeguarding lives in Thailand
- Teen Konstas to open for Australia in Boxing Day India Test
- Asian stocks mostly up after US tech rally
- US panel could not reach consensus on US-Japan steel deal: Nippon
- The real-life violence that inspired South Korea's 'Squid Game'
- Blogs to Bluesky: social media shifts responses after 2004 tsunami
- Tennis power couple de Minaur and Boulter get engaged
- Supermaxi yachts eye record in gruelling Sydney-Hobart race
- Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts, spewing columns of lava
- Sokoman Minerals Completes Phase 1 Diamond Drilling Program Fleur de Lys Gold Project, NW Newfoundland
- Canadian Government Provides C$100 Million Financing LOI to Green Technology Metals in Support of Electric Royalties' Flagship Lithium Royalty Asset in Ontario
- Sendero Resources Announces First Tranche Closing of Its Non-Brokered Private Placement
- EVSX Completes Installation of Multi Chemistry Line
- InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - December 24
- El Salvador Congress votes to end ban on metal mining
- Five things to know about Panama Canal, in Trump's sights
- NBA fines Minnesota guard Edwards $75,000 for outburst
- Haitians massacred for practicing voodoo were abducted, hacked to death: UN
- Inter beat Como to keep in touch with leaders Atalanta
- Mixed day for global stocks as market hopes for 'Santa Claus rally'
- Man Utd boss Amorim questions 'choices' of Rashford's entourage
- Trump's TikTok love raises stakes in battle over app's fate
- Is he serious? Trump stirs unease with Panama, Greenland ploys
- England captain Stokes to miss three months with torn hamstring
- Support grows for Blake Lively over smear campaign claim
- Canada records 50,000 opioid overdose deaths since 2016
- Jordanian, Qatari envoys hold talks with Syria's new leader
- France's second woman premier makes surprise frontline return
- France's Macron announces fourth government of the year
- Netanyahu tells Israel parliament 'some progress' on Gaza hostage deal
- Guatemalan authorities recover minors taken by sect members
- Germany's far-right AfD holds march after Christmas market attack
- European, US markets wobble awaiting Santa rally
Brazil's Alisson sees two red cards overturned in WC draw with Ecuador
Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker had two red cards overturned by VAR reviews as Brazil hung on for a controversial 1-1 World Cup qualifier draw with Ecuador on Thursday, with both teams having a player dismissed.
Alisson could count himself lucky after a straight red card in the first half, for a high boot on Enner Valencia, was downgraded to a yellow and then a second yellow card in injury-time was also overturned on review.
Ecuador could be forgiven for feeling aggrieved as four VAR reviews, two to check possible dismissals and two for penalties originally awarded by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan, all went against the hosts in Quito.
Even so, the point inches them closer to World Cup qualification with three games left.
Brazil and Argentina have already booked their tickets for Qatar.
Casemiro gave the visitors, who were missing the injured Neymar, an early lead but Ecuador center-back Felix Torres equalized 15 minutes from time.
Ecuador should have been in front within two minutes but alone and unmarked at the back post four yards out, Valencia somehow missed the target from Pervis Estupinan's free-kick.
It took just four minutes for Brazil to make Ecuador pay.
The hosts made a hash of clearing a corner as Brazil pinged the ball from one side of the box to the other before Philippe Coutinho's cross was headed goalwards by Matheus Cunha.
Goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez blocked the ball on the line but Casemiro pounced to stab home the loose ball from a yard out.
Ecuador were a mess at the back and Dominguez compounded matters with a rash attempt to reach a Fred through ball before Cunha.
The keeper got his toe to the ball but drove his studs into the forward's neck with his follow through and was rightly dismissed.
Following a lengthy VAR check to see if the foul was inside or outside the box, Coutinho fired the resulting free-kick high over the bar.
In an eventful start to the match, Emerson Royal was given his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards inside the first 20 minutes as numeric parity was almost immediately restored.
Five minutes later, Alisson was initially shown a straight red card for an almost identical offense to Dominguez's.
Having also won the ball at head height, he brought his follow through down in an axe kick on Valencia's head.
But, following a VAR check, Roldan incredibly downgraded the card to a yellow.
- Penalties overturned -
Early in the second half, Valencia had another glorious chance to score but headed wide from 12 yards after once again finding space in the box.
Up the other end, Cunha lashed a shot inches wide at the second attempt.
Ecuador had the ball in the net early in the second half through Michael Estrada but it was ruled out after a linesman flagged for the ball going out of play.
Roldan then signalled a penalty after Raphinha appeared to stand on Estupinan's foot in the box, but for the third time in the match VAR ruled in Brazil's favor and it was chalked off.
Moments after substitute goalkeeper Hernan Galindez beat away a fierce shot from fellow replacement Gabriel Jesus, Ecuador equalized.
Torres outjumped Casemiro to plant a header into the bottom corner past a helpless Alisson.
Roldan then pointed to the spot for a second time deep into injury time after Alisson connected with forward Ayrton Preciado's head as he punched clear a bouncing ball.
The referee also showed him a second yellow card but overturned both that and the penalty after another VAR view.
Both halves included more than 10 minutes of additional time due to the lengthy checks.
A.Malone--AMWN