World news – USA – Argentina overtake Peru in World Cup Qualifiers

. . Argentina scored twice from Nicolas Gonzalez and Lotaro Martinez to defeat Peru 2-0 and extend their unbeaten run to 11 games.. .

CAMEROON MAGAZINE - GM18/11/20202 Mins read64 Views

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Lautaro Martinez is celebrating after scoring in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Peru on Tuesday. Reuters

Argentina scored two goals in the first half and it was a pity not to score more in a dominant second as they easily beat Peru 2-0 in the World Cup Qualifiers in Lima on Tuesday.. .

Nicolas Gonzalez put the visitor ahead with an angled shot in the 17th minute after a pass by Giovanni Le Celso on the left flank. . Lautaro Martinez doubled the team’s lead after 11 minutes when he ran to a superb pass from Leandro Paredes and dodged the goalkeeper to score the net..

Captain Lionel Messi said: « From the start we played a great game, came goals and created many chances. ».

Referring to Argentina’s 1-1 draw at home with Paraguay last week, he said: « We are happy with the victory. We needed it after the match we played the day before. ». .

Argentina strengthened the pressure after the break with goalkeeper Pedro Galese, who prevented Lucas Ocampos from a big block, and Anderson Santamaria interfered in the penalty area to prevent Messi from adding a third goal in the counterattack.. .

The victory extended Argentina’s unbeaten run to 11 games and meant it remained second in the 10-team South American qualifiers to Qatar 2022, two points behind leaders Brazil.

It is also the first time since 2000 that the two-time world champion has won a qualifying campaign away from home three times in a row..

Peru’s defeat extended their winning streak to seven games under coach Ricardo Garica, the Argentine who led the nation to the World Cup Finals for the first time in 36 years last time in Russia.. .

Argentina’s next two matches will be played in March at home against Uruguay and beyond against Brazil, the only team in the group to have won all four of their matches so far.. .

The top four teams in the South American group of 10 automatically qualify for Qatar 2022, and the fifth-placed team will play an interregional playoff match.

Earlier in the evening, Bolivia was denied its first win when Kako scored 18 minutes before the end of the match to save a 2-2 draw for home country Paraguay in Asunción. .

The last time Bolivia qualified for the World Cup Finals was in 1994 and was a 2-1 lead in the first half, but it had to make do with a point that was still at the bottom of the group.. .