Tom Rofekamp06 sep 2024, 07:52
Last updated: 06 Sep 2024, 07:52
Argentina can look back on a great resumption of World Cup qualification. In the first match since winning the Copa América final in July, la Albiceleste easily put neighbours Chile aside: 3-0. Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Alvarez and Paulo Dybala were responsible for the goal production in Estadio Mâs Monumental. Angel Di María, who recently retired from international duty, said goodbye to the crowd.
Everything was right for Di María that day in July. A final win and a Man of the Match election: the circumstances could not have been better to bid farewell to international football after 145 appearances.
Di María was thanked extensively for his services on Friday night. The crowd treated the veteran to a shower of applause when he entered the field with his family before the match.
Then Di María saw from the stands how ‘his’ Argentina had no trouble with the visitors from Chile. Just after half-time, Lionel Scaloni’s team opened the scoring: Alexis Mac Allister shot hard and low after a smart step by colleague Lautaro Martínez.
It took a while for Argentina to double the margin, with Alvarez doing it five minutes from time.
After some good pressure from Enzo Fernández, the ball ended up with Giovani Lo Celso, who passed on the new Atlético Madrid signing. Alvarez laid it out for his weaker left foot and fired a devastating shot: 2-0, and no chance for Chilean goalkeeper Gabriel Arias.
It was the best of the evening, and one more would follow. Substitute Dybala scored low in extra time via a Chilean leg.
Argentina, where Lionel Messi was still absent due to an injury, thus settles more firmly at the top of the World Cup qualifying group. Scaloni’s team is proudly at the top with 18 points from 7 matches: runner-up Uruguay follows with 13 from 6. PSV goalie Walter Benítez was on the bench for Argentina for the entire match, as was former Ajax player Gerónimo Rulli. Lisandro Martínez did start.
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