Argentina claimed a convincing 2-1 win over Chile during the 2022 South American World Cup Qualifiers. Despite missing Lionel Messi, the team secured the victory at the Estadio Zorros del Desierto, extending their unbeaten streak to 28 matches. With goals coming from Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez, Argentina successfully navigated the away fixture to keep their second-place position in the table.
Due to Messi's recovery from COVID-19, the team management decided to rest him, leaving a gap that Angel Di Maria was happy to fill. The PSG star made an immediate impact, scoring the opening goal in the 9th minute with a brilliant left-footed curl from distance, courtesy of an assist by Rodrigo de Paul.
Chile reacted strongly to the early deficit, creating several opportunities to get back into the match. Their efforts culminated in the 20th minute when Ben Brereton Diaz scored a looping header from a difficult position following a pass from Marcelino Nunez. The goal caught Emiliano Martinez off guard and ended Argentina's streak of seven qualifying games without conceding.
The momentum shifted again just before halftime when Argentina capitalized on an injury to Chile's keeper, Claudio Bravo. As Bravo was preparing to be replaced, Rodrigo de Paul launched a powerful shot from 30 yards out. Although Bravo managed to stop the initial strike, the rebound fell perfectly for Lautaro Martinez, who hammered it into the bottom right corner to restore the lead.
This defeat is a devastating blow for Chile's ambitions to reach the Qatar World Cup. Currently sitting in seventh place with only 16 points and three games remaining, their path is now incredibly narrow, as only the top four teams in the group earn automatic qualification.
Meanwhile, Brazil's quest for victory ended in a 1-1 stalemate against Ecuador. Casemiro gave Brazil an early lead in the 5th minute, scoring from close range following a chaotic scramble in the box. However, Ecuador fought back, and Felix Torres leveled the score with a header in the 75th minute. Ecuador played with great energy throughout the match, particularly during a dominant first half-hour.
The game was marked by early volatility, with two red cards issued in the first 20 minutes. Ecuador's Alexander Dominguez was the first to be sent off for a dangerous challenge, followed shortly by Brazil's Emerson Royal, who received a second yellow card for a clumsy tackle. Despite the draw, Ecuador sits comfortably in third place with 24 points, making their qualification nearly certain.