Argentina edged to the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Friday after an outstanding strike from Thiago Almada earned them a 1-0 victory over Uruguay in Montevideo. The reigning world champions appeared to be headed for a draw after a tense tussle towards a Uruguay facet who defeated the Argentinians 2-0 in Buenos Aires earlier in qualifying. But Argentina grabbed all three factors with a second of magic that surprised Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario.
Gathering the ball on the sting of the realm, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder took a contact and uncorked a ferocious strike that flew into the highest nook past the dive of Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.
The solely blemish for Argentina on an in any other case strong evening’s work got here deep into stoppage time when Nicolas Gonzalez was dismissed after catching Uruguay defender Nahitan Nandez with a excessive boot in a rash problem.
Nevertheless that late purple card couldn’t take the gloss off the night for Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who praised his group’s response to shedding Messi to damage.
‘An entire match’
“How can I not be happy?” Scaloni stated following the win. “Not only for the outcome — however for the way they gave it their all. The satisfaction comes from the truth that the group performed an entire match.
“When one participant is lacking, one other is available in (…) we have now sufficient to exit onto the sector calmly, however the group is there.”
The win means Argentina can grow to be the primary South American group to e book their place at subsequent 12 months’s World Cup within the United States, Canada and Mexico with a victory over arch-rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
The world champions now lead the 10-team South American qualifying competitors with 28 factors from 13 video games, leaving them six factors forward of Ecuador in second, with Brazil third on 21 factors.
Uruguay are fourth within the standings with 20 factors from 13 video games, simply forward of fifth-placed Paraguay on purpose distinction.
Friday’s victory ensures that Argentina can end no worse than seventh place, which means they’re assured of no less than a spot in an inter-confederation playoff.
The prime six groups within the standings qualify routinely for the World Cup.
In Friday’s different South American qualifier, Ecuador boosted their possibilities of reaching the finals with a 2-1 win over Venezuela. Two objectives from veteran striker Enner Valencia sealed the factors for Ecuador, who’re bidding to qualify for the World Cup for the fifth time within the nation’s historical past.Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece saluted his group’s efficiency however cautioned towards complacency as they shut in on a World Cup berth.
“When issues are going properly, like in the present day after we’ve received three video games in a row, we have now to be cautious, calm, humble, and have plenty of self-discipline to proceed rising in what’s arising,” Beccacece stated.
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