Argentina stumbled on Thursday 2-1 with a fierce Paraguay but continues to lead the South American qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
Paraguay grew rapidly since Gustavo Alfaro took the reins after the Copa America-2024 0-0 draws against Ecuador and Uruguay, both of the visitor, and triumphs against Brazil (1-0) and Venezuela (2-1) at home, in addition to this Thursday’s victory against the world champion.
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Argentina on their side did not take advantage of the end of the soul after the blunt 6-0 score that hit Bolivia in October, with a triplet by Messi, who this Thursday at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion was well-controlled by the premises.
Messi was almost always trapped in a web of up to three Paraguayans who prevented him from moving comfortably.
The Guarani team turned the result with authority after attacker Lautaro Martinez scored for the visit at the 11th minute.
Antonio Sanabria tied with an exquisite Chilean goal at 19 minutis and Omar Alderete, two minutes after the complement began, sealed the comeback that allows Paraguay to be fifth with 16 points.
If nothing strange happens, the Argentina will travel in 2026 to the north of the continent to defend the title, although on this date it took a step back over by a solid containment scheme of the Paraguayan team, which has received only 5 so many in 11 dates.
Despite the defeat, Argentina remains leader with 22 points, followed by Colombia (19) and Brazil (17) in third place, while Venezuela placed seventh, in the box of repechage, with twelve points, along with Bolivia, eighth for the worst score of goals.
The eleventh date will be completed on Friday with the attractive duel between Uruguay and Colombia in Montevideo and that of the colistas Peru and Chile in Lima.
Paraguay equalizes against Argentina
It was Antonio Sanabria, the striker for Torino FC of Italy and Paraguay’s top scorer in this tie, who was in charge of drawing the match with a bicycle kick that sent the ball into an angle that was out of reach for Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez.
The draw encouraged the home team to control the action for a few more minutes, although in the last quarter of the first half, the Argentines imposed their presence, and managed to neutralize a couple of entries from the middle of the field by Miguel Almiron, the midfielder of Newcastle in England, who this Thursday played as the fourth midfielder on the left.
The break seemed to cool down the Argentines, who saw their net pierced in the 47th minute by a header from Getafe defender Omar Alderete, who rose in the middle of the area to deflect a shot from a set piece.
Alderete turned around a scoreline that seemed adverse and restored the spirit of a local team determined not to give up space in a Defensores that recalled the days of Paraguayan glory.
A shot off target by Rodrigo De Paul in the 68th minute alerted Fernandez, who was alert to any rival attempts.
