Football
Argentina hold on to record 1-0 win over Paraguay to top the table of Football World Cup Qualifiers
Defending Football World Cup winners Argentina beat Paraguay with a 1-0 margin. The game was played on Thursday in Buenos Aires. Veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi scored the all-important goal to seal all three points for the home team.
With this win, Argentina now sits at the top of the table with 9 points from three games. Talismanic captain Lionel Messi started the game from the bench for Argentina. The reason was a slight that niggle the 36-year-old was carrying from his time with Inter Miami FC.
Brazil couldn’t maintain their 100 per cent record as they drew at home to Venezuela. The next edition of the Football World Cup 2026 is set to be hosted by the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada.
Argentina registers a close win versus Paraguay –
The current football World Cup champions Argentina got off to a perfect start. After getting a corner De Paul’s cross was met with a perfect header by Nicolas Otamendi. The veteran defender slotted the ball into the goal in the third minute as the home fans went wild.
That was the only game as the game saw a high tempo being maintained. Enzo Fernandes was the first player to be given the yellow card in the 7th minute. The second-best chance of the game came in the 30th minute. Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez played a perfect 1-2 but the shot was deflected for a corner.
In the 42nd minute, Argentina had a great chance to go 2-0 ahead as De Paul’s shot hit the crossbar and went wide. Both the teams went into the break with the score reading 1-0. The Argentine attacking prowess was in full display even with Lionel Messi.
Just before the second half could begin Argentine coach was seen in conversation with Lionel Messi. In the 53rd minute, there was a huge roar as the 36-year-old came in for Julian Alvarez. Messi got his first touch in the 56th minute but the Paraguay defenders stopped his march.
There was a huge moment of magic in the 76th minute when Lionel Messi almost scored the 2nd goal of the game. Messi had put in a cross that evaded every player hit the post and went out of play.
There was no luck for the 36-year-old from Rosario as his second shot at goal in the 93rd minute hit the post again. Argentina held on to win the game 1-0 and moved to the top of the table.