Once once more, and now as a World Cup champion, Lionel Messi got here to Argentina’s rescue when the crew most wanted him.
The 36-year-old captain scored from a free kick in the 78th minute to give Argentina a 1-0 win towards Ecuador in the primary spherical of South American World Cup qualifying on Thursday.
It was Messi’s 104th aim in 176 worldwide appearances, together with his twenty ninth in World Cup qualifying. Those 29 objectives equal the report of Luis Suárez of Uruguay.
More than 83,000 followers on the almost full Monumental de Nuñez Stadium had been getting jittery till Messi scored, with their crew having hit the submit and the bar in the course of the match, and providing Ecuador a number of probabilities to counter.
Ecuador saved Argentina at bay throughout a lot of the match with a line of defense of 5 gamers, led by Moisés Caicedo, which put Messi underneath wraps throughout a lot of the conflict in Buenos Aires. But the decisive second of the star was sufficient to beat the hard-working Ecuadorians.
Goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez didn’t transfer as Messi’s shot from the sting of the field went to the again of the web, close to the left submit.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who accomplished 5 years in the job on Thursday, shocked followers with a distinct formation from the one which performed and gained the World Cup closing over France in Qatar. He benched Ángel Di María and began Nicolás González.
Scaloni additionally used Lautaro Martínez as his heart ahead as a substitute of Julián Álvarez. Argentina’s coach, who’s but to lose a match in South American qualifying, introduced Di María in in the course of the second half, however Argentina continued struggling to get clear probabilities.
“Every match needs 100% from us in this qualifying,” Messi mentioned after the match. “This was a tough match to play, a very physical one.”
Earlier, Colombia beat Venezuela 1-0 with a header by Rafael Santos Borré in the forty sixth minute. Paraguay and Peru drew 0-0.
Argentina and Colombia lead the standings with three factors. Paraguay and Peru are subsequent with one. Ecuador has minus three factors due to a FIFA punishment that brought about a deduction in South American qualifying for the falsification of beginning info of defender Byron Castillo, who’s of Colombian origin.
The first spherical of South American qualifying will probably be accomplished on Friday when Brazil hosts Bolivia and Uruguay performs towards Chile.
All 10 groups in the area will play their second spherical on Tuesday.
The 2026 version of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada is increasing to a 48-team format. The main six positions in South America will safe a direct spot. The seventh-place crew will contest an intercontinental playoff for a berth.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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