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Almada’s Strike secures a win for the Argentines
Argentina did not miss the absence of Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez and other key players on Friday and beat Uruguay 1-0 away in the South American World Cup qualifiers.
Thiago Almada scored the winning goal with perfect curled shot from outside the box during the 68th minute of the game putting the defending champions on the front hand of the game eventually clinching the victory. This victory keeps Argentina one point away from its direct spot in the World Cup next year.
Argentina leads the round robin tournament with securing 28 points from 13 games played, and could secure its place in the World Cup with a home draw in their upcoming game against Brazil.
The team of coach Lionel Scaloni already has a 15 point lead ahead of 7th placed Bolivia with only five rounds to the end of the qualifiers.
Ecuador is 2nd with 22 points followed by Brazil with 21 points. Uruguay and Paraguay with 20 points each on 4th and 5th postions on the basis of goal difference and Colombia on 6th with 19 points on the table.
Top 6 teams will secure its place directly in the World Cup 2026 and the seventh – place team will enter the Intercontinental playoffs.
Argentina had to accommodate key absences beyond Messi. Lautaro, Lisandro Martinez, and Rodrigo De Paul did not play in Montevideo. So, coach Lionel Scaloni gave a place to Giuliano Simeone in the starting lineup, with Julián Álvarez and Thiago Almada up front.
Uruguay, playing in a full Centenario Stadium against its arch rival, took the initiative and had the clearest chances in the first half. But Argentina managed to hold its ground and started getting the better opportunities after halftime.
Almada’s goal in the 68th minute, after Argentina had wasted several other opportunities in front of goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, still didn’t push Uruguay forward as Marcelo Bielsa’s team finished the match with only four shots on goal.
“I was a little anxious, very willing to play and to show why I was making the squad,” said Almada, a world champion with Argentina in 2022. “Now we have to rest and wait for this match against Brazil, they will rest one more day than us.”
Argentina’s Nico González will miss the match against Brazil. He was sent off after a challenge against Nahitan Nández in injury time.
Brazil has selection problems of its own for Tuesday’s match at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium, as starting goalkeeper Alisson, defender Gabriel Magalhães and midfielder Bruno Guimaraes are all ineligible to play.
Argentina coach Scaloni celebrated his team’s performance despite so many absences.
“We made a complete match; we absorbed the pressure. When we had to play, we did it. And when we had to defend, we did it too,” Scaloni said in a press conference. “I am happy not only for our win, but also for how the team behaves.”
Uruguay will have a chance to recover against Bolivia on Tuesday. If the Bolivians fail to beat the Uruguayans, Argentina will qualify for the World Cup even if it loses against Brazil.
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