Lautaro’s blow to Maradona

Argentina dispelled the small doubts that the defeat against Paraguay with a victory against Peru in La Bombonera. In their farewell until March, the Albicileste maintains the leadership of both the South America Qualifiers as of ranking FIFAlargely thanks to the great goal of Lautaro Martínez in the second half. Lionel Messi, Despite a discreet game, he appeared to assist his teammate. Peru sinks.

It was difficult for the Albiceleste to enter the game. Despite having the ball, he came out without tension in the first moments. An attitude that faded until a recovered ball led to a quick attack led by their three forwards. Messi for Lautaro and Lautaro for Julian Alvarez. The player of Atlético de Madrid He ended up crashing the ball on the first big chance of the match. Later, he warned Alexis Mac Allister with a header that came close to surprising the goalkeeper Welsh. However, little else was seen in the first half where Argentina did not show a good image against a well-organized Peru defensively, although to do so they had to do without attacking.

It was not Messi’s best first half. He was barely seen, he didn’t ask for the ball and he didn’t run. The captain seemed to be counting down the minutes to end his season and begin his vacation. However, in the second half, he appeared at the right moment to put a precise cross into the heart of the area, where Lautaro Martínez took an acrobatic shot that served to unclog the game. The captain reached 58 assists, equaling Landon Donovan as the highest assister in history at the national team level. With this much, El Toro equaled Diego Armando Maradona’s 32 goals with Argentina and was only three away from reaching fourth place, Hernan Crespo.

Peru closes the year at the bottom of the standings after its defeat against Argentina. His situation could change in the coming months with a possible departure of Jorge Fossati. Meanwhile, Scaloni will have time to think about the reconstruction that he hinted at before the match.

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