Messi leads Argentina to victory v Uruguay; Brazil held 0-0

The Selecao had won their first nine qualifiers, scoring 22 goals to lead the table by eight points before kick-off. Coach Tite’s side are still almost certain to qualify for next year’s finals in Qatar as they maintain a 13-point lead over fifth-placed Colombia, with the top four progressing automatically.

Messi leads Argentina to victory v Uruguay; Brazil held 0-0

Lionel Messi after scoring v Uruguay on Sunday. Pic/AFP

Lionel Messi opened the scoring as Argentina thumped neighbours Uruguay 3-0 in an entertaining World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

Goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martinez rounded off a successful night for Lionel Scaloni’s team in Buenos Aires as they maintained their unbeaten start to the qualification campaign and closed the gap at the top of the single South American table to six points behind Brazil, who drew 0-0 with Colombia. “We played a great match, I think we’re improving a lot,” said Messi.

‘It was a tough match’

“It was a tough match and we had to win it. Uruguay sit back and are dangerous. Once we scored the first goal we started to find spaces and many appeared.”
The first half was a classic end-to-end thriller with both sides hitting the woodwork before Argentina opened the scoring. Uruguay’s Luis Suarez looked lively early on and had three gilt-edged chances, all from the corner of the six yard box. Two, including an acrobatic volley, were parried by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, while his third effort came back off the near post.

Uninspiring Neymar

Meanwhile, the returning Neymar could not inspire Brazil to victory as hosts Colombia ended their perfect start to the qualification campaign in Barraquilla. The Selecao had won their first nine qualifiers, scoring 22 goals to lead the table by eight points before kick-off. Coach Tite’s side are still almost certain to qualify for next year’s finals in Qatar as they maintain a 13-point lead over fifth-placed Colombia, with the top four progressing automatically.

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