Argentina Beats Venezuela to Maintain 21 Unbeaten Games

Argentina has extended its unbeaten games to 21 on Thursday with a win over Venezuela in its World Cup qualifier in Caracas.

File Photo: Argentina Player

Lautaro Martinez unbolted the scoring in first half injury time after Venezuela had been reduced to 10 men by Luis Adrian Martinez’s red card for a reckless challenge on Messi.

Analyzing history, Venezuela had beaten Argentina only once in 14 previous World Cup qualifiers. And a possible comeback went blank due to self-acquired red card.

With a man advantage, the Argentine had most of the ball in the second half and added two more goals in the 71st and 74th minutes through substitutes Joaquin Correa and Angel Correa.

Fortunately, Yeferson Soteldo scored a consolation penalty for Venezuela in stoppage time.

Messi, who has played just 24 minutes this season with his new club Paris St Germain, was on the field for the whole game, but unable to register a goal on the score-sheet.

Messi started his first match since the final of the Copa America on July 10, and ended with him being fouled as Venezuela struggled to contain him.

Venezuela is the only one of the South American countries never to qualify for the World Cup, and its chances of breaking through seems slim as the defeat left it with just four points from seven matches.

Argentina is second in the 10-team South American qualifying group for next year’s World Cup, behind Brazil, which faces Chile on Thursday.

The top four teams qualify automatically for Qatar, and the fifth-placed side goes into an inter-regional playoff.

In a related development, Ecuador beat Paraguay 2-0, Bolivia drew 1-1 against Colombia and Algeria beat Djibouti 8-0.