Lima
In a FIFA World Cup qualifier held in Lima, Argentina secured a resounding 2-0 victory over Peru, with Lionel Messi shining brightly in the spotlight. Lionel Messi opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark with a sensational first-time strike into the top-right corner. This remarkable goal was set up by Nicolas Gonzalez’s precision cross. Right on the brink of halftime, Messi struck again, doubling Argentina’s lead. This time, Julian Alvarez allowed Enzo Fernandez’s cross to pass through his legs, leaving Messi with a clear path to fire a precise low finish from 16 yards. At the Estadio Nacional in Lima, Argentina’s flawless start to the South American zone qualifiers remained intact. Under the guidance of Lionel Scaloni, the team has clinched four consecutive wins, establishing a five-point lead over the second-placed Uruguay. In contrast, Peru finds itself in ninth place out of the ten-team standings with just one point to its name. In other matches within South America’s qualifying group on Tuesday, Uruguay triumphed 2-0 in a home game against Brazil, Ecuador settled for a goalless draw against Colombia on home turf, Paraguay secured a 1-0 victory at home against Bolivia, and Venezuela showcased dominance with a 3-0 win over Chile in their home encounter.
