The stunning strike by Thiago Almada gave an exhausted Argentina team a 1-0 win over Rivals Uruguay on Friday and brought them closer to the qualification of the World Cup.
Almada's curling effort In the 68th minute, a match decided to lack clear opportunities, which ended with the ruling world and Copa America champions to 10 men after the red card of Nicolas Gonzalez.
Both teams managed only one shot on the goal per piece in the first half, with Sergio Rochet and Emiliano Martinez Louter spectators for most of the opening period.
Argentina, who had seen Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez retire from their team in the structure to the game, improved after the break when Almada forced a smart stop with two hands from Rochet.
But the Uruguay goalkeeper later got no chance from the Lyon midfielder, while he curled a spectacular strike in the far corner of 25 meters.
#Eliminatories
¡NOS VOLVEMOS A ENCRARRART EL Martes, Albicelestes! pic.twitter.com/vgv1o1riyl
– Selección Argentina (@argentina) March 22, 2025
The hosts of Marcelo Bielsa never came close to collecting a response from there, with the only other incident of comment that replacement Gonzalez was sent deep in the stop time.
In the 95th minute, Gonzalez Nahitan Nandez caught the neck with a high boot and received a straight red card for serious false play.
That dismissal means that he will be suspended for Tuesday's collision with Brazil, in which a point will see the qualification of Argentina Seal for next year's tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
They are six points free of the second Ecuador placed in the Conmebol classification and have a 15-point buffer about Bolivia in the play-off place. Uruguay is seven free from Bolivia and will probably also be eligible.
Data debrief: no messi, no problem
An adductor injury suffered in the MLS match of Inter Miami against Atlanta United forced Messi to withdraw from the Argentina team for these qualifications, but La Albiceleste found a way to win without their Talisman.
They were limited to opportunities worth only 0.71 expected goals (XG), with less possession (44.9%) and fewer end passages (45 to 77) than their hosts.
But they were excellent in the defense, so the Bielsa team was limited to only six shots worth 0.19 xg. So far they have allowed the least shots (83) and expected goals against (7.03 XGA) in the South American qualification group.
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