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Peru prepared a fightback against Argentina in this Tuesday’s duel, 11/19, in the 12th round of the South American Qualifiers. In a crowded La Bombonera, the Hermanos hammered in the first half, but were unable to break through the Peruvian blockade. However, ten minutes into the final stage, after a great play by Messi, Lautaro Martínez scored a great volley, which was worth the ticket and defined the meager 1-0 victory, where only one team really wanted to play. This was the top scorer’s 32nd goal for the national team. This is how Maradona reaches Argentina’s 5th highest scorer.
Photo: Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images – Caption: Lautaro Martínez (22, center) celebrates his goal, which made Argentina 1-0 over Peru
Photo: Jogada10
Furthermore, the game marked a debut in Argentina: striker Giuliano Simeone replaced Lautaro in the 35th minute of the final stage. The Atlético de Madrid player is the son of Diego Simeone, former Argentine national team player and current Atlético de Madrid coach.
With this victory, Argentina reaches 25 points, maintaining its lead in the South American Qualifiers. On the other hand, Peru remains far from the classification zone, and even from the play-offs (7th place), with just seven points in 12 games. So far, they have scored just three goals in the competition and are back at the bottom.
First half: Argentina doesn’t score
Argentina took the initiative from the start, shocking Tagliafico’s shot after two minutes. With Peru closed, the Hermanos dominated the midfield. Midfielder Mac Allister appeared at least twice in the area as a surprise element, but failed to finish. The first big chance came from Álvarez, at 20. He received it from Lautaro Martínez and shot. However, the ball hit Gallese’s right post.
Peru, even with two attackers (Guerrero and Valera), was not scary. After 30 minutes, Argentina already had 76% possession and 4-0 in shots. But without success in the finals. In the final stretch, Mac Allister missed another chance and Enzo Fernandez almost completed Messi’s first big move, an assist that his teammate arrived a little late.
More qualifiers: Ecuador, away from home, beats Colombia
Second half: Lautaro decides
After ten minutes, Argentina finally managed to break through the Peruvian defense. Messi received it on the left, did his thing, leaving the strong marking, and crossed with precision. Better than the cross was Lautaro Martínez’s volley, which gave Gallese no chance.
In this way, Argentina took the lead, even more so against a Peru that, until then, had not managed to take a single shot — neither on target nor off target. In fact, he did it for the first time, in the 30th minute, with Peña, a shot that almost left the stadium. With the advantage on the scoreboard and facing a fearful rival, who, by the way, is not at the bottom of the competition by chance, Argentina maintained possession of the ball. So, he played the ball calmly, as if it were a training game, waiting for the right moment to extend the advantage.
Argentina’s top scorers
1st Messi – 112 goals (in 191 games)
2nd Batistuta – 54 goals (in 77 games)
3rd Agüero – 42 goals (in 101 games)
4th Crespo – 35 goals (in 63 games)
5th Maradona – 32 goals (in 87 games) and Lautaro – 32 goals (in 71 games)
Upcoming games
Now the teams will only return to the field in March 2025. On the 20th, the Argentines visit Uruguay. On the same date, Peru hosts Bolivia.
ARGENTINA 1×0 PERU
12th round of World Cup Qualifiers
Local: La Bombonera, Buenos Aires (ARG)
Data: 19/11/2024
ARGENTINA: Lake Martinez; Montiel (Nehuen Perez, 31’/2oT), Balerdi (Medina, 44’/2oT), Otamendi and Tagliafico; De Paul (Lo Celso, 35’/2oT), Enzo Martinez and Mac Allister (Paredes, 44’/2oT); Messi, Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez (Giuliano Simeone, 35’/2ºT).
Technical: Lionel Scaloni.
PERU: Welsh; Zambrano, Araujo and Callens; Polo (Quispe, 40’/2ºT), Jesús Castillo, Sonne (Bryan Reyna, 28’/2ºT), Peña (Rivera, 40’/2ºT) and Advíncula; Paolo Guerrero (Lapadula, 18’/2ºT) and Valera (Flores, 28’/2ºT). Coach: Jorge Fossati.
Goals: Lautaro Martínez, 10’/2ºT (1-0)
Arbitrator: Wilmar Roldan (COL)
Auxiliaries: John Leon (COL) and John Gallego (COL)
OUR: Yadir Acuña (COL)
Yellow cards: Miguel Araújo, Zambrano (PER)
Red cards:
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