Paraguay 0-0 Argentina: Lionel Messi and co scored unbeaten in 23 matches but were held to a goalless draw in World Cup qualifiers
- Argentina finished second in the qualifying group but was held in Paraguay.
- Lionel Messi was unusually calm when Lautaro Martinez was missing in the attack
- Paraguay advanced into the game in the second half and tested Emiliano Martinez.
- Argentina will next take on Uruguay and then Bolivia in the two home World Cup qualifiers
Argentina failed to score for the first time since June 2019, but Thursday’s 0-0 draw in Paraguay maintained its unbeaten record in South America. 2022 world cup Qualifier
Argentina has gone 23 games without a loss under coach Lionel Scaloni and is second in the qualifying group with 19 points Brazil, the only other unbeaten team to have scored 27 Beating Venezuela 3-1 in Caracassi.
The top four teams automatically qualify for the next year’s Qatar and the fifth-placed team advances to the inter-regional playoffs. Argentina was without lautaro martínez under attack and with Lionel Messi A quieter-than-usual game lacked enthusiasm, especially in the first half.
Lionel Messi was calmer than usual as Argentina were held to a goalless draw in Paraguay
The Argentine captain struggled to impress the proceedings with his lack of enthusiasm in the game
Yet Argentina has now played 23 games without a loss under head coach Lionel Scaloni.
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges but Paraguay rose in the game in the second half and tested Emiliano Martínez in Argentina’s goal more often.
Scoloni made five changes in the second half and the game started.
Substitute Alejandro Gómez made a brilliant save from Paraguay keeper Antoni Silva with 12 minutes remaining, and then Carlos González at the other end made a cutback on the bar three minutes from time.
Argentina defender Nicolas Tagliafico said, ‘I think we had some good moments. ‘We were probably struggling to control the game. Paraguay came to us several times and was dangerous.
‘I think we made their goalkeeper one of the best players in the game.’
The likes of ngel Di Maria started for all Argentines but could not achieve a breakthrough.
Emiliano Martínez tested more regularly in the second half as Paraguay pushed for victory
Some fans invaded the pitch after full time and tried to take selfies with Messi
Argentina’s next home match is against Uruguay and Peru, while Paraguay is away from Chile on Sunday and then travels to Bolivia on Thursday.
In the second opening game of the evening, Uruguay and Colombia drew 0–0 in Montevideo. Uruguay, who started the day on the third day, have 16 points from 10 matches, two points ahead of Colombia.
Bolivia and Peru will face Chile in Ecuador’s game on Thursday.
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