Mueez Ajao
– Argentina scored twice in three minutes late in the second half, including a curiously mis-hit effort from Lionel Messi, to help cement a 3-0 win over Venezuela in Friday’s World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires.
– Argentina had already qualified for Qatar before Friday’s game and were on top throughout against the last-placed side in the South American qualifying group and the only one of the 10 South American sides never to reach the World Cup finals.
– They got the breakthrough their pressure deserved 10 minutes before half-time when Nicolas Gonzalez knocked home Rodrigo De Paul’s inviting low cross from six meters out.
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– Substitute Angel Di Maria scored a lovely second in 79 minutes when he ran on to a through pass from De Paul and then chipped the ball over three Venezuelan defenders from outside the box.
– Messi himself got the third three minutes later when he chested down a Di Maria pass before sclaffing the ball past a helpless keeper, Wuilker Farinez.
– The result was Venezuela’s 10th defeat in their last 12 games and extended Argentina’s unbeaten run to 30 matches dating back to July 2019.
– The home side, who were without four players suspended for breaching COVID-19 quarantine rules ahead of September’s suspended game against Brazil, has never lost to Venezuela in eight home qualifiers.
– The two-times world champion and current Copa America winners will be joined in Qatar by Brazil, Ecuador and Uruguay, while Peru, Colombia and Chile are battling for fifth place and a playoff spot against a team from the Asian confederation.
– The final round of games takes place next Tuesday.
