La Paz, Tuesday – In a remarkable display of strength, Argentina emerged triumphant with a convincing 3-0 victory over Bolivia during their South American World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday. Notably, star player Lionel Messi was absent from the lineup, taking a break from international duty due to fatigue.
Lionel Messi, who has been heavily involved with his club, Inter Miami, opted to watch the game from the sidelines rather than participating in the action. His absence was attributed to the physical toll from his recent match-winning performance against Ecuador.
Despite Messi’s absence, Argentina showcased their prowess on the pitch, securing a decisive win against Bolivia. The goals came from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Tagliafico, and Nicolas Gonzalez.
The Chelsea midfielder, Enzo Fernandez, nearly added another goal to Argentina’s tally with an impressive long-range strike, which was expertly saved by Bolivia’s goalkeeper, Guillermo Viscarra.
Viscarra further highlighted his goalkeeping skills by blocking a near post shot from Julian Alvarez, who capitalized on a defensive lapse.
Argentina opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Alvarez provided a precise assist to Angel Di Maria, whose low cross was skillfully tapped in by Fernandez.
Bolivia’s challenge became even more daunting when Roberto Fernandez received a red card for a reckless challenge on Cristian Romero.
Argentina maintained their dominance in the second half, with Alvarez striking the post in the 70th minute, while Viscarra remained vigilant in thwarting attempts from Rodrigo De Paul and Di Maria.
Fernandez sealed the victory with a perfectly executed left-footed shot just seven minutes before the final whistle, capitalizing on the hesitant defending from the home side.
With this resounding triumph, Argentina looks ahead to their World Cup qualifying campaign while Messi enjoys some well-deserved rest. Meanwhile, fans can anticipate other exciting matches scheduled for later in the day, including Ecuador vs. Uruguay, Venezuela vs. Paraguay, Colombia vs. Chile, and Brazil vs. Peru.
