Defending World Cup champions Argentina took to the field Thursday night for a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying game against Paraguay. The crowd at Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires anticipated the first match featuring home hero Lionel Messi since the club's 1-0 win over Ecuador Sept. 7.
They weren't disappointed.
Messi came off the bench in the second half as Argentina earned a dominant 1-0 win over Paraguay. Nicolás Otamendi earned his first goal of the World Cup qualifying matches with a powerful strike from the right side of the box in the third minute.
The early goal set the stage for a statement performance by Argentina. They controlled the game in the first half and ended the match with 75% possession overall. Paraguay rarely had the ball long enough to get through a set piece and managed just one shot on goal the entire night.
Argentina had many opportunities after Otamendi's early goal to extend the lead but couldn't connect. Forward Lautaro Martínez had a great chance in the 16th minute but Paraguay keeper Carlos Coronel made one of his three saves to keep it out of goal.
Argentina's next-best attempt of the first half came from Nicolás González from the center of the box. It passed Coronel's outstretched hands but also passed the far post of the goal by a foot in the 45th minute.
Messi entered the game for Julián Álvarez early in the second half. He initially refused the captain's armband from Otamendi but eventually gave in with a smile and put it on.
Thanks to the stifling defense all night, Argentina's keeper Emiliano Martínez broke a national team record for scoreless minutes in goal with 609. He hasn't allowed an opposing goal on Argentina since the World Cup final against France last December.
Argentina continues CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying competition next week with a game against Peru Oct. 17.
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