Messi scores a hat-trick as Argentina defeats Bolivia.
In Tuesday’s CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match, world champions Argentina easily defeated Bolivia 6-0, led by Lionel Messi’s historic hat trick.
As Lionel Scaloni’s team dominated, the 37-year-old gave a clear reminder of his enduring quality throughout the match with three clinical finishes, two assists, and some of his signature inventiveness. After Bolivian defender Marcelo Suarez was robbed by Lautaro Martinez, Messi was sent clear and skillfully slotted into the bottom corner to give the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner the lead in the 19th minute.
In the 43rd minute, Julian Alvarez threaded a brilliant pass through to Messi, who selflessly squared the ball to Martinez to finish, putting the home crowd at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires back on their feet.
When Bolivia was caught napping at a free-kick three minutes later, Messi chipped the ball over the top, and the Atletico Madrid forward slotted home, putting Alvarez on goal himself. Nicolas Otamendi’s header was disallowed for offside after the interval, but the home crowd didn’t have to wait long for the fourth goal, which Thiago Almada side-footed home following an incredible pull-back by Nahuel Molina.
After Messi cut in from the right, played a clever wall pass off substitute Nico Paz, and once more put the ball beyond goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra’s reach two minutes later, some supporters started crying. With 22 points from ten games, Argentina leads the 10-team table by three points. Colombia, in second place, defeated Chile 4-0 in Barranquilla.
The team had a different appearance, sporting a unique vintage white uniform that commemorated the centennial of the Colombian Football Federation and featured the colors of the national flag in a hoop.
Nestor Lorenzo’s team’s performance, which involved dismantling a miserable Chilean team that is still rooted last in the ten-team qualifying group, was equally stylish as the striking design.
In the 34th minute, Jhon Lucumi headed a James Rodriguez corner goalwards, and defender Davinson Sanchez nodded home the first goal. In the 45th minute, Jhon Cordoba slotted home a cross from Diaz, but the attempt was disallowed for offside against Diaz.
In the 82nd minute, substitute Jhon Duran put the score at 3-0 after Sinisterra broke free after another midfield lapse, fed the Aston Villa forward, who made no mistakes, and sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Brazil’s resounding 4-0 victory over Peru in Brasilia further allayed worries about their chances of qualifying. The record five-time World Cup winners were on their way thanks to two penalties converted by Barcelona winger Raphinha. The first was in the 38th minute after Carlos Zambrano handled in the box, and the second was in the 54th minute after the same defender brought down Savinho.
Luiz Henrique’s incredible left-footed drive from outside the box put Brazil in fourth place and completed the rout in spectacular fashion. Paraguay’s 2-1 victory over Venezuela, which included two goals from substitute Antonio Sanabria, increased their chances of earning one of the six automatic qualification spots. The full-back Yeferson Soteldo’s pass was intercepted by Jon Aramburu, who burst down the right and buried it in the bottom corner to give Venezuela the lead in the 25th minute.
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