Jesus out and Cunha in for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers

By: Mauricio Savarese, The Associated Press Posted: 11:58 AM CDT Friday, Sep. 25, 2020 Last Modified: 11:59 AM CDT Friday, Sep. 25, 2020

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SAO PAULO - Injured Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus was replaced by Hertha Berlin's Matheus Cunha in Brazil's squad on Friday for the two opening rounds of South American World Cup qualifiers in October.

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This article was published 25/09/2020 (2197 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SAO PAULO – Injured Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus was replaced by Hertha Berlin’s Matheus Cunha in Brazil’s squad on Friday for the two opening rounds of South American World Cup qualifiers in October.

The Brazilian Football Confederation said in a statement its medical team heard from City that Jesus was injured on Monday during the 3-1 win against Wolverhampton in the English Premier League, without elaborating. Jesus scored the third goal near the final whistle.

The 21-year-old Cunha received his first call-up from Brazil. He has scored twice for Hertha Berlin in two matches of the new season.

Hertha's Matheus Santos Carneiro Da Cunha, center, celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and 1. FC Union Berlin in Berlin, Germany, Friday, May 22, 2020. The German Bundesliga is the world's first major soccer league to resume after a two-month suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Stuart Franklin/Pool Photo via AP)

Cunha was Brazil’s top goal-scorer in qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, with five in seven matches.

Brazil starts training on Oct. 5 outside Rio de Janeiro. Four days later it will begin qualifying against Bolivia in Sao Paulo. On Oct. 13 coach Tite’s team will face Peru in Lima.

The other strikers in the squad are Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Everton (Benfica), and Richarlison (Everton).