Argentina overcame Paraguay 1-0 on Thursday in a South American World Cup qualifying match, despite a subpar effort from Lionel Messi, who missed the post twice after coming off the bench.
The World Cup champions improved to 3-0 in the round robin stage with this win.
In the third minute, Nicolás Otamendi scored the game’s lone goal after a corner ball found him unmarked in the penalty area. The defender hammered a left-footed volley into the back of the net.
The 36-year-old Messi has been out for a few of games for Inter Miami due to muscular issues in his right leg. Nico Gonzalez was chosen by coach Lionel Scaloni to take his spot. In the 52nd minute, with Argentina ahead 1-0, the star player replaced Julián lvarez.
Messi’s first attempt at taking a corner kick on the field at the Monumental de Nuez Stadium in Buenos Aires resulted in a shot off the post, but his subsequent dribbling and long passes were unsuccessful.
Shortly before the final whistle, Messi took a free kick from the identical place where he scored the winning goal against Ecuador in September, but his ball missed to the right.
Scaloni started the game with an attacking pair consisting of lvarez and Lautaro Martnez because Argentina was without their captain for the first half.
In Paraguay’s first game under new coach Daniel Garnero, they struggled to score against Argentina. The 54-year-old coach replaced Guillermo Barros Schelotto following the first two qualifying games last month.
Messi sat out four Major League Soccer games and his team’s U.S. Open Cup final. He logged 10 minutes of action in Saturday’s 1-0 loss for Inter Miami to Cincinnati. In September, he missed Argentina’s World Cup qualification triumph over Bolivia, 3-0.
As of the end of the first round of South American World Cup qualifying, Argentina has nine points and Paraguay has one.
With an increased field size to 48 teams, the top six South American teams will receive automatic bids to the 2022 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. There will be a playoff between the top two teams from each continent to determine the final qualifier.
Thursday morning saw a 2-2 tie between Colombia and Uruguay. In the 37th minute, veteran James Rodrguez gave the home team the lead, but Matias Oliveira responded with an equalizer just before halftime.
In the 52nd minute, Mateus Uribe scored to give Colombia the lead again. After goalkeeper Camilo Vargas was sent off for fouling Darwin Nez, Uruguay tied the game with a penalty kick right before full time.
Uruguay has four points after three games, while Colombia has five.
In La Paz, Ecuador scored late to secure a 2-1 victory over Bolivia.
Shortly before halftime, the visitors’ Kendry Paéz scored, and in the 83rd minute, Rodrigo Ramallo scored an equalizer. Three crucial qualifying points were scored by Kevin Rodriguez for Ecuador.
If Brazil beats Venezuela later on Thursday, they will tie for first with Argentina. It’s also being played in Peru and Chile.