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Nov 19, 2024, 9:00 PM ET
Argentina beat Peru 1 to 0 with a great goal from Lautaro Martínez and extended his lead at the top of the South American Qualifiersheading towards qualification for the 2026 World Cup, and closed another historic year.
Lautaro Martínez scored a great goal in La Bombonera. AP
After the lackluster presentation in Asunción, including a defeat against Paraguay, the Albiceleste had to prove against Bicolor, one of the worst teams in the qualifying competition, where they barely had a win. And, although he did not shine, he deserved to win and he achieved it based on his hierarchy.
Despite the fact that the rival, somewhat more limited in terms of names and play, gave them the opportunity to do so, Argentina did not renounce possession of the ball at any time, monopolizing it from the first moment and establishing clear dominance from the possession.
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However, in the initial stage, the team Lionel Scaloni had difficulty reaching clearly. He spent a lot of time in three quarters of the court and began to make progress to get ahead, but he didn’t even worry Pedro Gallese, whose stick saved him in the most dangerous situation: a shot by Julián Álvarez.
Taking the shot from Araña, who once again integrated the trident with Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez, the surprise arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister and Gonzalo Montiel were the best approximations of the local team, who went to the locker room with the feeling of having dominated but perhaps not having done enough to take the lead, in a game that had one team on the playing field.
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And what it couldn’t in the first half, Argentina achieved because of its hierarchy. Messi, very well contained by the Peruvian defense until then, took advantage of minimal spaces to get rid of two rivals and sent a great cross to Lautaro, who very briskly took two steps back and got rid of Alexander Callens.
But the best came later, since He invented a pair of scissors and, with a slight detour in Callens, he scored a great goal to overtake the Argentine National Team (55′) and expand his history at the international level: he scored his 32nd goal, the same goals that Diego Armando Maradona celebrated in his glorious career as a footballer.
Jorge Fossati made changes in the offensive sector, but Peru could not take possession of the ball even with the disadvantage on the scoreboard (Dibu Martínez was a luxury spectator. In fact, even without such fluidity, Argentina warned again on a couple of occasions with Martínez, who had already scored against Paraguay and was replaced by Giuliano Simeone, in his senior debut with the Major.
In addition, Giovani Lo Celso replaced Rodrigo De Paul, while minutes before Gonzalo Montiel, with physical discomfort, had given his place to Nehuén Pérez. About the hour, it was the turn of Facundo Medina and Leandro Paredes.
Another good news for Scaloni was that none of his players were cautioned, so those warned (Otamendi, Montiel, De Paul, Fernández, Paredes, Lo Celso and Mac Allister) will be able to play in March against Uruguay in Montevideo, in a FIFA Date that will close by hosting Brazil.
With this triumph, the Albiceleste, which closed a 2024 in which the two-time American championship stood out, reached 25 points in 12 datesout of 18 of the Qualifiers, cutting themselves at the top and ahead of Uruguay (20), Ecuador (19), Colombia (19), Brazil (18) and Paraguay (17).
After Uruguay and Brazil, a double date in which they will be able to seal qualification for the World Cup, the best team in the world, a position in the ranking that they secured with this Tuesday’s victory in La Bombonera, will face Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.
Peru, for its part, is beginning to say goodbye to the World Cup dream: it is bottom with 7 units, two less than Chile, which simultaneously beat Venezuela and surpassed it in the standings.
How does Argentina’s recent win against Peru impact their overall strategy for upcoming matches in the South American Qualifiers?
1. As a professional website editor, I would like to know your thoughts on the recent win of Argentina against Peru in the South American Qualifiers. How significant is this win for their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, and how have they managed to maintain their dominance in the region?
2. The article mentions Lautaro Martínez’s impactful performance with a historical goal that helped secure the win. How crucial has he been to the team’s success in these qualifiers? Furthermore, what role do you believe Lionel Messi has played in leading the team to their current position?
3. Argentina faced some difficulties in the first half, but eventually managed to take control of the game. Can you discuss the tactical adjustments made by head coach Lionel Scaloni that led to this turnaround, as well as any specific challenges they faced in the match?
4. The article also highlights the team’s upcoming fixtures, including matches against Uruguay and Brazil. How important are these games for determining their chances of securing qualification, and what are some of the key factors that could impact their performance?
5. Looking ahead, what are some of the team’s strengths and weaknesses that could come into play as they continue their journey towards the 2026 World Cup? Additionally, are there any specific player moves or additions you think could help improve their chances of success down the line?
