Messi sends Argentina to summit in qualifying
Reuters - Sunday 03 June 2012, 02:24
Argentina's decision to play their four
world class forwards was fully justified in a crushing 4-0 win
over Ecuador that put them top of the South American World Cup
qualifiers on Saturday.
Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi and Angel di
Maria all scored in the victory as the home side scored three
goals in a devastating 11 minute period in the first half that
settled the outcome.
Messi, replicating his Barcelona form more and more with
each match for his country, was brilliant and may well have
finally won over the crowd at the Monumental in Buenos Aires.
"We have to be a solid team, structured in defence and
accompany Lionel so he can express himself to the full," coach
Alejandro Sabella told the post-match news conference.
Argentina lead the South American group with 10 points from
five matches, one more point than Chile, who beat Bolivia 2-0 in
La Paz, and two ahead of Uruguay and Venezuela who drew 1-1 in
Montevideo.
However, Argentina can be overtaken next weekend when they
have a bye which they will spend playing arch-rivals and 2014
World Cup hosts Brazil in a friendly in the United States.
Copa America holders Uruguay failed to end their Venezuela
jinx, going a fifth World Cup qualifier in succession without
beating the region's former whipping boys.
Diego Forlan put Uruguay ahead at the Centenario when he
extended his national scoring record to 33 in the 39th minute.
But, with little more than five minutes left, a header by
Venezuela striker Jose Salomon Rondon was helped into his own
net by defender Diego Godin.
"Rondon hits it and it hits me," Godin told reporters who
asked him whether he thought it was an own goal, as initially
given by the South American Football Confederation.
"None of us are pleased with what we showed," Uruguay coach
Oscar Tabarez told reporters speaking for the players and his
staff.
HIGH WIN
Chile served notice they are still a force despite initial
problems that included coach Claudio Borghi suspending a quintet
of players for breaking a curfew before a qualifier against
Uruguay last November.
Borghi's side notched up a third win as Chile made it three
successive qualifying victories in the thin air of La Paz,
absorbing pressure and hitting Bolivia on the break.
Forward Charles Aranguiz put Chile ahead in first-half added
time and Bolivia's hopes took a further dive when defender Luis
Gutierrez was sent off early in the second half for a foul on
Alexis Sanchez.
Bolivia's coach Gustavo Quinteros, a member of the country's
last team to go to the finals in 1994, was also sent to the
stands for protesting.
Midfielder Arturo Vidal, the only one of the five players
disciplined in November to be pardoned and have his suspension
reduced, made sure of the points with a second goal seven
minutes from time netting a ball that came back off the post.
Bolivia, bottom of the group with one point from five
matches, paid for their poor finishing when they dominated early
on in both halves.