Calama –
Argentina keep getting positive results in 2022 World Cup Qualification even without Lionel Messi. Facing the host Chile, Argentina won with a score of 2-1.
Chile host Argentina at the Estadio Zorros des Desierto on Friday (28/1/2022) morning WIB. Argentina will be without Messi, who is not in the squad due to the impact of the coronavirus.
The Albiceleste surprised the host public after Angel Di Maria scored a quick goal in the ninth minute. Chile then replied through Ben Brereton’s header. Argentina took the lead again thanks to Lautaro Martinez’s goal in the 34th minute, and maintained their lead until the end of the match.
With this result, Argentina is firmly in second place in the CONMEBOL standings after collecting 32 points from 14 matches. Meanwhile Chile sits in seventh position with 16 points from 15 matches, two points adrift of Uruguay in the automatic qualifying zone.
The course of the match
Argentina opened the scoring when the game had lasted just nine minutes. Di Maria brought Argentina to beat Chile 1-0 through a beautiful goal from outside the penalty box.
Di Maria picked up a pass from Rodrigo De Paul then stabbed in from the right side past three opposition players. Di Maria then curled a left-footed shot into the top corner of the Chile goal.
Chile only needed 12 minutes to balance the score. Ben Brereton scored against Argentina to make it 1-1.
From an attack on the right flank, Marcelino Nunez sent an accurate cross that found Brereton near the post. Brereton headed in, the ball slid to the far post out of reach of Emiliano Martinez.
After the game went past half an hour, Argentina was back in front. Lautaro Martinez changed the score to 2-1 in the 34th minute.
An attack from the middle ended by Rodrigo De Paul with a hard shot from outside the penalty box, although Claudio Bravo could parry it. However, the rebound fell right in front of Lautaro who easily slotted the ball into the net.
After the restart, the two teams were relatively even. In the 64th minute, Chile had a good chance when Montecinos sent a pass that freed Mauricio Isla in the penalty box. However, Isla’s first touch was poor so Nicolas Otamendi could clear the ball.
The match was getting more intense, a number of violations were quite harsh by the players from each team.
In the last 10 minutes, Argentina displayed a solid defense to withstand Chile’s dangerous attacks. A cross from the right flank Brereton then cleared Otamendi. The rebound was continued with a shot from the edge of the penalty box but several Argentine defenders stepped in to block it.
Emiliano Martinez made a brilliant save. Brereton crossed with a header from close range, but Martinez had the right reflex to clear.
In the last four minutes, Chile missed a golden opportunity. Crossing Montecinos failed to be cleared by Otamendi, so it headed for the Brereton lane. Unfortunately, Brereton failed to reach the ball at the near post.
Lineup
CHILE: Claudio Bravo (Brayan Cortes 35′), Medel, Maripan, Paulo Diaz (Isla 60′), Sebastian Vegas (Suazo 46′), Aranguiz, Erik Pulgar, Marcelo Nunez (Montecinos 60′), Alexis Sanchez, Vargas (Davila 85′), Brereton
ARGENTINA: Emiliano Martinez, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Molina, Alejandro Gomez, Di Maria (Angel Correa 85′), Paredes, De Paul (Lo Celso 71′), Lautaro Martinez (Julian Alvarez 78′), Nico Gonzalez (Acuna 70′)
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