Lionel Messi provided a brilliant assist as a magnificent volley from Lautaro Martinez was enough to give world champions Argentina a 1-0 win over Peru.
In Tuesday’s South American World Cup qualifying match, world champions Argentina defeated Peru 1-0 thanks to a spectacular goal from Lautaro Martinez, while Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw at home against Uruguay. With their qualifying for the 2026 championship undoubtedly only a matter of time, Argentina continues to lead the CONMEBOL rankings. Although Lionel Scaloni’s squad didn’t have a particularly memorable performance, a magical moment from Martinez of Inter Milan proved to be the difference at the ‘Bombonera’ stadium in Buenos Aires. Martinez sprang into the air and leaned back as he fired a powerful left-footed volley past Pedro Gallese after Lionel Messi floated in a cross from the left.
With their eighth victory in 12 games, Argentina leads the standings with 25 points, five points ahead of Uruguay, who gained a crucial point in Brazil.
World Cup winners five times Uruguay’s Federico Valverde, a midfielder for Real Madrid, scored a beautiful goal in the 55th minute to put Brazil down after they struggled for extended periods of the match in Salvador.
However, Brazil equalized seven minutes later when Gerson scored a perfectly-struck volley after a headed clearing landed pleasantly to him.
With a superb foot-switch before a volley that resulted in a fantastic stop from Sergio Rochet, Gabriel Martinelli came very close to winning.
Brazil is now in fifth position with 18 points after the draw, one point behind Colombia in fourth place, who lost to Ecuador 1-0 at home in Barranquilla.
In the seventh minute, veteran attacker Enner Valencia startled the home fans with a spectacular solo effort. The former West Ham United forward broke free from three Colombian defenders, smashed into the area, and then slotted home.
Jhon Cordoba, a Colombian attacker, then blew a fantastic chance to tie the score.
The incident in the 34th minute that left Ecuador shorthanded for the remainder of the match was mostly caused by Cordoba.
As Piero Hincapie closed in on him, the gangly attacker went down after racing clear and evading Ecuadorian goalkeeper Hernan Galindez.
Despite protracted appeals and a VAR review, the referee’s conclusion that Hincapie had tripped the striker remained in effect.
The goalie had a busy half as Colombia hammered his goal, but Galindez was quick to stop Rodriguez’s subsequent free kick.
Galindez did well to save Cordoba at close range after Liverpool winger Luis Diaz headed a cross from Daniel Munoz into the post.
In the second half, Ecuador’s defense stood strong, and Colombia became increasingly irritated. Galindez parried to keep out replacement Jhon Duran, and Cordoba, who was unfortunate, shot the loose ball high and wide from a close angle.
Somewhere Paraguay won a 2-2 draw against Bolivia on Tuesday after Ervin Vaca’s confident goal in the 15th minute gave the home team the lead.
Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United scored a spectacular goal to tie the score for Paraguay in the 71st minute following a deft ball across the area.
Nine minutes later, after Gustavo Gomez had taken down Lucas Chavez in the box, Miguel Terceros’ penalty gave Bolivia the lead again.
With a brilliant single effort from Julio Enciso, who dribbled from deep before launching a powerful drive from 20 yards out, Paraguay managed to secure a point in stoppage time.
In ninth place Chile’s 4-2 thumping of Venezuela bolstered their slender prospects, but they still have a lot of work to do if they want to secure one of the six automatic qualifying berths.
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