The Argentine national team started its campaign in the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, by defeating its Ecuadorian counterpart, with a goal without response, in the match that brought the two teams together, at the Lapomoponera stadium, as part of the first round of the qualifiers.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi gave the “Tango” team a lead in the 12th minute, after a penalty kick awarded to Lucas Ocampos.
Argentina have lost once in their last 8 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador, and despite their failure to consolidate their lead, they were not at risk in front of their modest counterpart.
But getting the three points is a good thing for Argentina, which has been absent from winning international championships since winning the Copa America in 1993.
Argentina extended their unbeaten record to eight games under coach Lionel Scaloni and the victory was a positive start for seven players in the starting line-up who had never played in World Cup qualifiers before.
Argentina will go out to face Bolivia, in La Paz, on Tuesday, while Ecuador will return to host Uruguay, who beat Chile 2-1 in the start of the qualifiers.
The top four in the 10-nation qualifiers qualify for the finals in Qatar directly, while the fifth-ranked player will play in the global play-offs.
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