Buenos Aires Oct 11 (BUS): Two goals in the minutes leading up to the end of the first half, one of which was an extraordinarily lucky goal from Lionel Messi, helped Argentina on their way to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Uruguay in World Cup qualifiers day. Sunday.
Eight minutes before the end of the first half, Messi made a pass from a distance of 35 meters into the area, but striker Nicolas Gonzalez and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera missed it and somehow slipped into the net.
Six minutes later, Lautaro Martinez swung and missed a chance on the edge of the penalty area but the loose ball landed in the way of Rodrigo de Paul, who did not commit any error.
Martinez made up for his waste when he converted a low cross from De Paul 17 minutes into the second half, Reuters reported.
“We played a great match,” Messi said. “All is well.”
“Uruguay is waiting for you and they are creating danger. As soon as we achieve the first goal we start to find space and the goals appear.”
The win, along with Brazil’s 0-0 draw with Colombia earlier in the day, cuts the gap between leaders Brazil and second-placed Argentina to six points at the top of the 10-team qualifying group for South America.
The top four teams automatically qualify for Qatar and the fifth-placed team plays an interregional play-off.
Uruguay, who finished the day fourth in the top 10 list, were undefeated in eight matches before Sunday’s game.
They took the match to their rivals, with Luis Suarez coming close on three occasions in the first half hour, including a resounding shot that bounced off the post.
Argentina grew as the match went on, and Giovanni Lo Celso missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring when he dribbled past the goalkeeper but fell behind before firing a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar and the goal line before rolling to safety.
After the home team drew blood for the first time, they never looked like they were losing an unbeaten streak that is now 24 games.
Edinson Cavani entered the second half for Uruguay, but it was Argentina that had better chances in an entertaining match that included only 15 fouls without any warning.
Messi came close to getting his second goal and substitute Angel Di Maria could have climbed to fourth on only two occasions to see Muslera dodging his counter-attack twice.
In contrast, Chile won for the first time in eight qualifying matches to keep their slim hopes of qualifying for Qatar.
Ben Brereton and Mauricio Isla scored in the 68th and 72nd minutes to take Chile, who missed Russia in 2018, to 11 points, only five points behind fifth-placed Colombia.
Charles Aranjuez was sent off two minutes later by the hosts but Paraguay could not capitalize on their late advantage and had their player sent off in the last minute when Omar Alderet saw the red.