Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson found himself fortunate to avoid a red card after kicking an opponent in the head while on international duty with Brazil.
Referee Wilmar Roldan had originally shown the 29-year-old a straight red during their meeting with Ecuador following a challenge with former West Ham United and Everton forward Enner Valencia.
Alisson rushed to the edge of his box to make a clearance, but made contact with the head of the forward on his follow through as Valencia chased down the ball.
But, after initially being dismissed, he was allowed to continue as VAR downgraded his red to yellow.
Had the red card been upheld, it would have been the third handed out by the Colombian referee within 30 minutes of kick-off, as the World Cup qualifying game quickly reached boiling point.
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Brazil have already secured their place at the 2022 World Cup, but still named a starting XI packed with Premier League stars - including the Liverpool man.
While other Premier League stars are enjoying time off in Dubai, Thiago Silva and Emerson Royal started the game in the back four, with Fred and Philippe Coutinho in midfield and Raphinha in the front three.
Other Premier League stars, including Manchester United left-back Alex Telles and Manchester City duo Ederson and Gabriel Jesus, started on the bench.
And, despite the visitors' stacked squad and status as qualifying group leaders, they picked up several bookings in the first half while both sides had a man dismissed in a feisty encounter.
Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez was the first to go after going in high on Brazil's Matheus Cunha, with the referee showing no hesitation in brandishing the red card.
Just 15 minutes had passed at that point, but the second red came out a mere five minutes later.
Tottenham Hotspur right-back Emerson had gone into the book in the opening seconds of the game, and picked up his second booking in the 20th minute for a foul on Michael Estrada.
By this point, Brazil were in front through Casemiro's early goal, but it looked as though a third player would get their marching orders thanks to Alisson's foul.
Valencia, who plays his club football in Turkey for Fenerbahce, went down clutching his head after being caught by Alisson's stray boot.
However, after a VAR check which went on for a number of minutes and involved many replays, the red card was downgraded to a yellow and Alisson was allowed to continue.
The game in Quito saw the hosts looking to give their qualification hopes a real boost, having been the surprise package of qualifying so far.
And they levelled with 15 minutes remaining, as Felix Torres' fine header beat Alisson for 1-1.
There was more drama involving the Liverpool stopper in injury time however, when he was sent off for the second time... and again called back on after more VAR intervention.
Again he hesitated when a bouncing ball dropped in his penalty area before jumping and punching, with both fists, first the ball and then Ayrton Preciado.
A second yellow and subsequent red were shown, with a penalty awarded.
However, VAR again stepped in to see him spared a red card for the second time, and the penalty wiped off.
