Argentina On Brink After Thiago Almada Strike Sinks Uruguay | Soccer Information
Argentina edged to the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Friday after an outstanding strike from Thiago Almada earned them a 1-0 victory over Uruguay in Montevideo. The reigning world champions headed for a draw after a tense tussle towards a Uruguay aspect who defeated the Argentinians 2-0 in Buenos Aires earlier in qualifying. However Argentina grabbed all three factors with a second of magic that shocked Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario.
Gathering the ball on the sting of the realm, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder took a contact and uncorked a ferocious strike that flew into the highest nook past the dive of Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.
The one blemish for Argentina on an in any other case stable evening’s work got here deep into stoppage time when Nicolas Gonzalez was dismissed after catching Uruguay defender Nahitan Nandez with a excessive boot in a rash problem.
However that late crimson card couldn’t take the gloss off the night for Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who praised his crew’s response to shedding Messi to damage.
‘A whole match’
“How can I not be glad?” Scaloni mentioned following the win. “Not only for the end result — however for a way they gave it their all. The satisfaction comes from the truth that the crew performed a whole match.
“When one participant is lacking, one other is available in (…) we have now sufficient to exit onto the sector calmly, however the crew is there.”
The win means Argentina can change into the primary South American crew to e book their place at subsequent yr’s World Cup in america, Canada and Mexico with a victory over arch-rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
The world champions now lead the 10-team South American qualifying competitors with 28 factors from 13 video games, leaving them six factors forward of Ecuador in second, with Brazil third on 21 factors.
Uruguay are fourth within the standings with 20 factors from 13 video games, simply forward of fifth-placed Paraguay on purpose distinction.
Friday’s victory ensures that Argentina can end no worse than seventh place, that means they’re assured of not less than a spot in an inter-confederation playoff.
The highest six groups within the standings qualify mechanically for the World Cup.
In Friday’s different South American qualifier, Ecuador boosted their probabilities of reaching the finals with a 2-1 win over Venezuela.
Two objectives from veteran striker Enner Valencia sealed the factors for Ecuador, who’re bidding to qualify for the World Cup for the fifth time within the nation’s historical past.
Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece saluted his crew’s efficiency however cautioned towards complacency as they shut in on a World Cup berth.
“When issues are going effectively, like right now after we’ve gained three video games in a row, we have now to be cautious, calm, humble, and have a number of self-discipline to proceed rising in what’s arising,” Beccacece mentioned.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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