Argentina Triumphs Over Peru, Edging Closer to World Cup Qualification; Brazil and Uruguay End in Stalemate
Lautaro Martínez’s strike propelled Argentina to a slender 1-0 victory over Peru in a crucial South American qualifier held in Buenos Aires, nudging them tantalizingly close to nailing down a berth in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Meanwhile, on a different part of the continent, Brazil played a 1-1 stalemate against Uruguay in Salvador. The game, with its flickers of brilliance, produced two stellar goals amid what was otherwise a humdrum showdown. Federico Valverde lit the scoreboard first, with a sensationally curled shot from the box’s edge. Brazil’s Gerson responded in kind, netting his inaugural goal for the national team at the Arena Fonte Nova.
Currently, Argentina is reigning supreme in the South American qualifiers, perched at the top with 25 points amassed over 12 matches. They’re comfortably five points ahead of their closest chasers, Uruguay. The third, a fierce competition with Ecuador and Colombia, both tied at 19 points.
Brazil seems to be in a bit of a slump, lagging in fifth place at 18 points, hoping their talisman, Neymar, returns from injury soon. Paraguay follows closely, holding sixth with 17 points to their name.
In this qualification campaign, South America gets to send six teams directly to the World Cup. Lurking in seventh, Bolivia clings to the playoff spot with 13 points, while Venezuela (12), Chile (9), and Peru (7) stew outside the qualifying positions.
Come March, we’ll witness the next phase of these South American qualifiers unfold.
Uninspiring Argentina
Martínez’s goal not only consolidated Argentina’s standing but also marked his 32nd goal for his nation, equaling the iconic Diego Maradona. Before his moment of magic, Argentina’s brightest opportunity came when Julián Alvarez’s attempt grazed the Peruvian goalkeeper’s right post in the 21st minute. Messi, carrying weighty expectations, had yet another modest performance following their recent 2-1 stumble at Paraguay.
In the 55th minute, Messi delivered a pivotal cross into the penalty area, presenting Martínez with one of the scant clear-cut chances of the match, ultimately flicking the ball across the goal line with elegance more than force.
Despite this lackluster display on home turf, Lionel Messi’s side is poised to finish the year with a firm grasp on their strategy, save for a few tweaks in November.
“We’ve captured the Copa América, and we’re leading the South American World Cup qualifiers,” echoed goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. “We’ve got every reason to be proud.”
Jeers for Brazil
In Salvador, after the final whistle blew, Brazilans at the stadium vented their dissatisfaction. The match provided few genuine chances, with Uruguay looking more likely to clinch victory during much of the second half.
Uruguay’s Valverde opened the scoring in the 55th minute, exploiting Brazilian defenders’ repeated failed attempts to clear the danger zone, firing neatly to the left corner. Brazil’s Gerson struck back in the 61st minute.
Responding to the fans’ exasperations, Brazilian forward Raphinha conveyed his empathy but offered a different perspective: “We played splendidly. We did everything within our power to snatch a win here. We need to walk tall; they’ll find it a challenge to defeat us,” he assured.
Elsewhere, Ecuador emerged victorious with a 1-0 win against Colombia, courtesy of Enner Valencia’s early strike in the seventh minute as he waltzed through a triad of defenders before scoring. A red card for Piero Hincapié in the 34th minute didn’t deter Ecuador as they grit their teeth for the rest of the game.
Bolivia squared with Paraguay 2-2 in a tussle between two sides possibly vying for seventh place. Chile, despite being considered one of the laggards this year in the region, delivered a spirited performance, downing Venezuela 4-2.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
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