Brazil and Argentina both won in South American World Cup qualifying overnight to move closer to sealing qualification for Russia 2018.

The Brazilians are almost there having beaten Uruguay 4-1 in Montevideo, with Paulinho scoring a hat-trick and Neymar also netting after Edinson Cavani had put Uruguay in front.

After 13 out of 18 rounds, Brazil lead the 10-team round-robin competition by seven points from second-placed Uruguay.

Argentina are a point further back in third after Lionel Messi’s penalty saw off sixth-placed Chile 1-0 in Buenos Aires.

The top four teams qualify automatically for the World Cup and the fifth-placed side go into a play off with a team from Oceania.

Colombia, who beat Bolivia 1-0 in Barranquilla, are in fourth with Ecuador fifth after they lost 2-1 to seventh-placed Paraguay in Asuncion.