Two goals from Lionel Messi helped the travelling
Albiceleste to secure what was in the end a comfortable win against Paraguay,
seeing his nation top CONMEBOL qualifying
Argentina have
booked a place at the 2014 World Cup after a 5-2 win over Paraguay in Asuncion
on Tuesday.
Alejandro Sabella's men were the dominant side at Estadio
Defensores del Chaco, winning thanks to a brace of Lionel Messi penalties, plus
goals from Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Maxi Rodriguez.
Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero's howler gifted an
equaliser to Paraguay in the first half through Jose Nunez but Di Maria and
Messi put the result beyond doubt shortly after the break as their side stayed
top of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying.
Roque Santa Cruz scored a late consolation goal for
Paraguay, who cannot qualify for the World Cup.
Now seven points clear of fifth-placed Uruguay with two
games remaining, Argentina join hosts Brazil as the two South American teams
with a place booked at the 2014 tournament.
Argentina struck first on 12 minutes after a fast
counter-attack led to Paraguay being exposed on the break.
It was a three-on-one break and Di Maria's pass found
Aguero at the back post, with the Manchester City forward brought down by the
advancing Roberto Fernandez.
Messi stepped up and placed his penalty into the bottom
corner as Fernandez dived the wrong way, giving him his 36th goal for
Argentina.
The goal sent the Barcelona star into clear second on the
all-time leading goalscorers list for his country, ahead of Hernan Crespo (35)
but still some way behind Gabriel Batistuta (56).
Argentina's lead only lasted five minutes before a howler
from Romero gifted Paraguay their equaliser.
Nunez flicked Miguel Samudio's cross goal-ward and Romero
should have dealt with the effort but it bounced over the diving goalkeeper and
into the net.
Argentina should have restored their lead three minutes
later, but – with an open goal to aim at – Inter striker Rodrigo Palacio put
his header wide from close range.
Paraguay captain Santa Cruz was denied by Romero on the
half-hour mark, with the goalkeeper tipping the Malaga striker's header over.
It was the combination between Messi and Aguero which led
to the latter giving Argentina a 2-1 lead, just moments after another nervy
moment by Romero when he dropped a cross.
Messi cushioned down a pass with his chest for Aguero,
who took a touch before firing into the bottom corner with his left foot.
Argentina were being given far too much space in the
attacking third and Messi had two strikes at goal saved by Fernandez before
half-time.
Aguero thought he had given Argentina a two-goal lead on
the stroke of half-time but he was correctly ruled offside.
If Paraguay held some hope heading into the second half,
it was dashed inside eight minutes after the break.
Di Maria netted in a one-on-one with Fernandez after a
lovely Fernando Gago pass before Messi scored from the penalty spot again.
It was a soft penalty awarded against Salustiano Candia
for a foul on Messi but came after Paraguay were again left exposed and
outnumbered at the back.
Messi chose the other way with his penalty – shooting to
Fernandez's left – but the Cerro Porteno goalkeeper was still unable to keep it
out as the 26-year-old scored his 10th goal of the qualifying campaign.
Di Maria was denied a second when he had a shot cleared
off the line by Oscar Romero after exchanging passes with Messi on the
hour-mark.
Romero kept out Nunez with a fine save as the tempo
slowed but there was still time for Paraguay to score a consolation goal
through Santa Cruz, who tapped in Samudio's cross in the 86th minute, while
Rodriguez capped off the rout for Argentina when he scored four minutes later.
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