San Juan (Argentina): A Lionel Messi masterclass, in which he scored from a free-kick and also did the spadework for two other goals, put Argentina’s World Cup qualifying campaign back on track with a resounding 3-0 win over Colombia here Tuesday.
The win lifted Messi’s team, recovering from two successive defeats, into fifth place in the South American group with 19 points, one behind Ecuador and Chile, who beat Uruguay 3-1 with an Alexis Sanchez brace.
“It’s hard to analyse (the match) when you concede those kinds of goals and the more so when one team have a player like Messi,” said Colombia coach Jose Pekerman. “With the second goal, the match became practically impossible (for us). Messi made the difference.”
Argentina took a ninth-minute lead when Messi curled his free-kick over the wall and into the top left corner of David Ospina’s net off the underside of the bar for his 57th Argentina goal.
Falcao came close for Colombia at the other end when he headed James Rodriguez’s free- kick just over Sergio Romero’s bar after 18 minutes.
Five minutes later Messi’s superb ball over the defence was met on the edge of the six-yard box with a firm header into the bottom far corner by Lucas Pratto, justifying his inclusion in place of the benched Gonzalo Higuain.
Colombia pushed Argentina back in the second half though the home side threatened again when Messi fed Angel di Maria but his shot from a tight angle hit the post.
Di Maria did, however, break a goal drought for his country stretching back eight matches, in the 83rd minute. Messi cheekily stole the ball from a defender, raced into the box and laid the ball square where Di Maria blasted his 18th Argentina goal into the roof of the net.
After the match Messi took out his fury on the media after one journalist wrote on his Twitter handle that Ezequiel Lavezzi had been caught smoking pot.
Addressing reporters as he stood in front of the entire Argentina squad, Messi said, “We have made the decision not to talk to the press anymore, obviously you know why. You can criticise us for bad play, but you can’t get into our personal lives… you can disrespect us as human beings.”
In Santiago, Sanchez scored twice in the second half as Chile came from a goal down after Edinson Cavani had put the Uruguayans ahead and Claudio Bravo saved a late Luis Suarez penalty. The first goal for Chile was scored by striker Eduardo Vargas.
Jesus brilliance seals Brazil win
Lima (Peru): An outstanding performance from Gabriel Jesus helped Brazil to a 2-0 win over Peru here Tuesday and moved the five times World Cup winners four points clear at the top of the South American qualifying group for Russia 2018.
Two second half goals, Manchester City-bound Gabriel Jesus scoring the first and setting up the second for Renato Augusto, gave Brazil the points against a home team that played well for no reward.
“I am working hard, quietly, hoping to help my teammates on the pitch,” the 19-year old Jesus told ‘TV Globo’ after the game. “There are lot of players in Brazil who can wear the No. 9 but I am proud that I have this opportunity. I am proud to be honouring the shirt.”
Peru had never beaten Brazil in 10 previous World Cup qualifying matches but they took the game to their more illustrious visitors and were unlucky to come up against two clinical finishers.
The Palmeiras forward, who will join Manchester City in January, got the first 12 minutes into the second half when the ball fell kindly to him to hammer home from 13 yards. He turned provider 21 minutes later, laying the ball off to Renato Augusto in space and the Beijing Guoan midfielder made no mistake from 12 yards.
In the day’s earlier games, Ecuador beat Venezuela 3-0 to stay in third, while a late own goal from Gustavo Gomez gave Bolivia a 1-0 win over Paraguay in La Paz.
Isco salvages Spanish draw
London: Substitute Isco struck deep in stoppage time to earn Spain a 2-2 draw and deprive Gareth Southgate of victory in his final game as England interim manager here Tuesday at the Wembley Stadium.
Goals from Adam Lallana and Jamie Vardy had set England up for an impressive win, but Spain debutant Iago Aspas reduced the arrears in the 89th minute before Isco leveled with practically the last kick.
Southgate, who lost Lallana to injury in the first half, cursed his luck on the touchline, but having gone four games unbeaten since replacing Sam Allardyce, the job is still expected to be his for full time.
“The players over the period of the four matches couldn’t have given any more,” Southgate said after the game. “It feels like a defeat for the players, but I couldn’t be more proud of what they’ve done. It was a healthy, positive performance.’
Isco’s 96th-minute strike extended Julen Lopetegui’s unbeaten record to six games since he succeeded Vicente del Bosque as Spain coach in the aftermath of their Euro 2016 exit at Italy’s hands.
Vardy won the penalty that yielded England’s opening goal in the ninth minute, but he was perhaps fortunate to still be on the pitch. Lallana easily converted to the left of Pepe Reina.
England then made it 2-0 early in the second half. Stand-in captain Jordan Henderson’s cross from the right was met with a brilliant diving header from Vardy, who had previously gone 14 games without scoring for club and country.
Agencies
