Striker Lautaro Martinez led the Argentine national team to victory over its Peruvian guest with an unanswered goal on Tuesday, in the 12th round of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in football, while Brazil settled for a 1-1 draw with Uruguay.
Argentina, the holder of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, approached the finals after raising its score to 25 points in the lead, five ahead of Uruguay and six ahead of Ecuador, which won over Colombia 1-0 and holds the same tally of points (19).
The Argentine national team did not perform its best in the qualifiers, but a magical shot from the Italian Inter striker Martinez decided the result in Buenos Aires.
Brigadier General Lionel Messi penetrated the defense and sent a cross from inside the penalty area, which Martinez met with a powerful shot on the fly.
This is only the second victory for Argentina in the last five matches, after its last defeat to its host Paraguay 1-2 in the last round.
Messi and his teammates raised their positive score on their home field to 18 matches without losing in the last 19.
At Fonte Nova Stadium, the Brazilian team that won the World Cup title five times did not perform at the level hoped for and settled for a point that raised its score to 18 in fifth place.
The hosts fell behind to a goal by Federico Valverde, the Real Madrid star, in the 55th minute, but seven minutes later, Gerson, the Flamengo midfielder, equalized with a powerful shot from the outskirts of the area after he received a loose ball from the defence.
Gabriel Martinelli, the English star of Arsenal, almost gifted Brazil the three points with a beautiful shot that was brilliantly blocked by goalkeeper Sergio Rochette.
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