Two hundred and sixty-three days after that December 18, 2022, which was the third star for the Argentine national teamthe ‘Scaloneta’ had a triumphant debut in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup by defeating Ecuador 1-0 with a goal from a free kick by Lionel Messi.
Before the more than 85,000 people who filled the stands of the ‘Monumental’ Stadium in Buenos Aires, the Albiceleste found in a magical free kick from their captain Lionel Messi the possibility of a home win at the beginning of the road to the next World Cup, where he will defend the title obtained in Qatar 2022.
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On the fifth birthday of the Scaloni cycle since that premiere on September 7, 2018 against Guatemala in Los Angeles, the ‘Scaloneta’ had an unconvincing performance before a euphoric audience, but celebrated at the end at the official premiere of the third star in The shield.
This goal allowed Messi to reach the Uruguayan Luis Suárez as the all-time top scorer in the qualifiers with 29 goals each.
On the Ecuador side, this result with defeat marked the official debut of the Spanish coach Félix Sánchez Bas, who took over La Tri after the successful cycle led by the Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, who achieved a historic qualification for the World Cup in Qatar.
Chronicle of the match
In the first minutes, it was intense for Ecuador that sought to surprise a local team that sought to play around Messi with Lautaro Martínez as an area reference, but who had a hard time connecting to have risky situations.
In these first 20 minutes, the best of the captain and star of Inter Miami was seen with a frontal center first that Lautaro Martínez did not connect with and then a shot from the left before a pass from Alexis Mac Allister that went just wide.
At minute 25 came the only one from Ecuador in this first stage with a weak shot from Enner Valencia that Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez contained without problems.
Three minutes later, an Argentine connection ended with a cross from Tagliafico that ended with a deflected shot from Lautaro Martínez.
At the end of this first stage, two actions came with two separate crosses by Rodrigo De Paul, the first saved by Félix Torres and the second with an imperfect shot by Lautaro Martínez that ended up on the right post of Hernán Galíndez in the clearest of this first stage.
Second part
The beginning of the second stage was with the same tune as the first half and Argentina arrived in the 49th minute for the first time with a shot by Enzo Fernández that deflected over the crossbar.
And in minute 54 came another dangerous action for Argentina with a perfect free kick from Messi for Alexis Mac Allister’s header that required a spectacular reaction from Hernán Galíndez to save the fall from his fence.
Three minutes later, a run by Nicolás Tagliafico led to a shot by the left back that went just over the crossbar.
And around minute 66 came an option from Ecuador with a play from left to right for Enner Valencia’s weak shot that ‘Dibu’ Martínez controlled without problems.
And an absent Messi was present in the 68th minute with a quick connection with De Paul that left the Argentine captain with a free shot that demanded Galíndez to stop the ball by stretching out his right hand.
Barely two minutes later, they beat Nahuel Molina’s back with a center behind Valencia that the admitted Kevin Rodríguez could not connect with precision and ended up diluting a clear situation for the visit.
Messi’s goal
And in minute 76 a free kick on the edge of the area generated the expectation of the Argentine public on the edge of the area that allowed Lionel Messi with a perfect shot to stop goalkeeper Galíndez and allow Argentina to take advantage on the scoreboard.
And in the 84th minute, the locals were able to seal the victory with a great play by Rodrigo De Paul who gave an assist to Ángel Di María for a crossed finish that went just wide.
In stoppage time, a play from right to left ended with a shot by Rodrigo De Paul that Galíndez managed to clear, in a result that ended up sealed with a hard-fought victory for the world champion in front of his home crowd with a goal from his captain, who He retired replaced to receive a new ovation and a pampering of the soul.
On the second day of these qualifiers, this Tuesday Argentina will visit Bolivia at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz, while Ecuador will host Uruguay in Quito.
