Lionel Messi struck a classic hat trick as world champions Argentina romped to a 6-0 win over Bolivia of their CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old offered an emphatic reminder of his enduring high quality with three scientific finishes, two assists, and a few of his trademark creativity all through the sport as Lionel Scaloni’s aspect dominated.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner opened the scoring within the nineteenth minute when Bolivian defender Marcelo Suarez was robbed by Lautaro Martinez, who despatched Messi clear, and he cleverly slotted the ball into the underside nook.
The house crowd at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium was on their ft once more within the forty third minute when Julian Alvarez threaded a superb go via to Messi, who unselfishly squared the ball to Martinez to complete.
Three minutes later, Alvarez was on course himself when Bolivia had been caught napping at a free kick, with Messi chipping the ball excessive for the Atletico Madrid ahead to fit residence.
After the break, Nicolas Otamendi had a header dominated out for offside, however the residence followers didn’t have to attend lengthy for the fourth when Thiago Almada side-footed the ball residence after an excellent pull-back from Nahuel Molina.
A traditional Messi objective made it 5-0 within the 84th minute — the Inter Miami ahead dribbled centrally earlier than switching from his left foot to his proper and burying the ball into the underside nook.
Two minutes later, some followers had been in tears after Messi reduce in from the proper, performed a wise wall go off substitute Nico Paz, and once more put the ball past the attain of goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.
Argentina are on the prime of the 10-team desk with 22 factors from ten video games — three factors away from second-place Colombia, who crushed Chile 4-0 in Barranquilla.
– Colombians crush Chile –
There was a special look to the staff, carrying a particular retro white equipment marking the Colombian Soccer Federation’s centenary, that includes the nationwide flag’s colors in a hoop.
It was a dashing design, and the efficiency of Nestor Lorenzo’s staff was equally trendy, taking aside a woeful Chile aspect that remained rooted on the backside of the 10-team qualifying group.
Defender Davinson Sanchez opened the scoring within the thirty fourth minute, nodding residence after Jhon Lucumi had headed a James Rodriguez nook goalwards. Jhon Cordoba slotted residence a Diaz cross within the forty fifth minute, however the effort was dominated out for offside in opposition to Diaz.
Chile gifted the Colombians a second objective seven minutes after the interval when Benjamin Kusevic gave the ball away to Rodriguez, who squared it to Liverpool winger Luis Diaz to transform.
Substitute Jhon Duran made it 3-0 within the 82nd minute after one other giveaway, this time in midfield, allowed Sinisterra to interrupt after which feed the Aston Villa ahead, who made no mistake. Sinisterra then wrapped up the win in stoppage time.
Brazil continued to ease any issues about their qualification possibilities with a cushty 4-0 win over Peru in Brasilia.
A pair of penalties transformed by Barcelona winger Raphinha put the document five-time World Cup winners on their method — the primary coming within the thirty eighth minute when Carlos
Zambrano dealt with the ball within the field, and the second within the 54th minute after the identical defender introduced down Savinho.
However there was extra to understand within the third objective, within the 71st minute, with Andreas Pereira producing an excellent scissor-kick volley from a Luiz Henrique cross from the proper.
Luiz Henrique accomplished the rout in spectacular model with a superb left-footed drive from exterior the field to make it 4-0 and depart Brazil in fourth place.
Paraguay boosted their possibilities of grabbing one of many six computerized qualification spots after substitute Antonio Sanabria scored twice in a 2-1 win over Venezuela.
Full-back Jon Aramburu put Venezuela forward within the twenty fifth minute, bursting down the proper and amassing a go from Yeferson Soteldo, which he buried within the backside nook.
Torino striker Sanabria was launched on the interval and introduced sixth-placed Paraguay stage when he slid in to fulfill a low cross from Junior Alonso.
Sanabria then grabbed the winner within the 74th minute, main a counter-attack earlier than entering into the field to complete off the transfer with a header from shut vary.
Uruguay and Ecuador performed out a goalless draw.
AFP