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Argentina settled for a goalless draw against Paraguay

Lionel Messi had scored a hat-trick in the previous match against Bolivia. Despite playing well against Paraguay in Asuncion today, no goals were scored and neither did Argentina.

Despite maintaining a 23-match unbeaten streak in a goalless draw, coach Lionel Scaloni could be disappointed as he could not pick up a full 3 points. Argentina are second in the table from the South American region with 19 points from 9 matches in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Paraguay are sixth  with 12 points in 10 matches.

Argentina lost five chances in the first half. Opportunity is wasted even after the break. Although Paraguay tried to attack from time to time, especially after the break, but Messi-Di Maria was in control of the match.

Messi has a chance to score in both halves. However, he was not seen to enter the box too much from the back. Tried to get inside by making the game from the outside. He got two free-kicks in two halves but could not use them. However, a few have taken shots.

In the first half, Argentina tried to play a goal in a beautiful football with a small pass. Lautaro Martinez could not play due to injury. Lionel Scaloni led his Inter Milan teammate Huaquin Correa with Lionel Messi, Anhel Di Maria and Giovanni Lo Celso behind him. Paraguay’s defense was broken by exchanging balls in short passes, but the goal was not scored.

Argentina settled for a goalless draw against Paraguay

Argentina got four good chances to score in the first 12 minutes of the match. Paraguay goalkeeper Antonio Silva blocked Korea’s two shots in the 1st and 3rd minutes. Korea and Di Maria took his test twice more in 12 minutes. Paraguay defender Junior Alonso almost blocked The Maria’s shot from the goal line.

Messi attacked but no one was able to convert it into a goal. He himself took two shots. Argentina played 284 passes in the first half, while Paraguay could not hold the ball for long.

After a goalless first half, the rivalry between the two teams has increased comparatively in the second half. Paraguay got two good chances to score in 20 minutes to speed up the game. In the 64th minute, Paraguay forward Antonio Sanabria entered from the left side and took a good shot, but was blocked by Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

In the 50th minute, Gustavo Gomez’s header was deflected by Martinez’s determination. However, he made the best save in 71 minutes. The Aston Villa goalkeeper stood incredibly at the wall with a sudden shot from Sanabria from the left.

The match also spread tension for some time. After 60 minutes, a Paraguay defender dropped Nicolas Otamendi from a corner. The players of the two teams argued about this first and then pushed each other. The situation calmed down with the intervention of the referee.

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