Argentina vs Uruguay LIVE: Di Maria scores only goal as Copa America champions seal vital win – Angel Di Maria scored the only goal of the game as Argentina clinched a win over rivals Uruguay in the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. In the absence of Lionel Messi, his PSG teammate Di Maria took over the mantle, scoring with a fine left-foot finish to put LA Albiceleste in front. Uruguay did make life difficult for the Copa America champions in the final minutes, but only left to rue missed chances with Agustin Martinez twice heading into the final minutes before full-time. Follow Insidesport.in for all FIFA World Cup Qualifiers LIVE updates.
Argentina vs Uruguay: Di Maria scores the only goal as Copa America champions seal 1-0 win to continue unbeaten record, Messi makes a return
Second half
- 95′: Full-time: Uruguay 0-1 Argentina
- 91′: Another chance for Agustin Martinez goes begging, as Uruguay look consigned to defeat at home.
- 84′: Agony for Uruguay! Agustín Álvarez Martínez puts his free header narrowly above the crossbar!
- 81′: Substitution, Uruguay. Fernando Gorriarán replaces Nahitan Nández.
- 81′: Substitution, Argentina. Exequiel Palacios replaces Rodrigo de Paul.
- 80′: Mauro Arambarri (Uruguay) had the chance to be his team’s hero and hit a right footed shot from outside the box, but misses to the left. Assisted by Luis Suárez.
STAT: Uruguay have scored five of their 14 goals in qualifying between the 75th and 90th minute (35%). In comparison, Argentina have scored their joint-fewest goals in that time (10%).
- 76′: Substitution, Uruguay. Mauro Arambarri replaces Rodrigo Bentancur because of an injury.
- 76′: Substitution, Argentina. Lionel Messi replaces Giovani Lo Celso.
- 69′: Offside, Uruguay. Martín Cáceres tries a through ball, but Nahitan Nández is caught offside.
- 64′: Substitution, Uruguay. Agustín Álvarez Martínez replaces Matías Vecino.
- 55′: Substitution, Argentina. Ángel Correa replaces Ángel Di María.
- 55′: Substitution, Argentina. Papu Gómez replaces Lautaro Martínez.
- 48′: Martín Cáceres (Uruguay) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
First half: Uruguay 0-1 Argentina
- 45′: Substitution, Argentina. Joaquín Correa replaces Paulo Dybala.
- 45′: Substitution, Uruguay. Facundo Torres replaces Brian Rodríguez.
- 18′: Paulo Dybala (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 7′: GOAALL!! Uruguay 0, Argentina 1. Ángel Di María (Argentina) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Paulo Dybala.
Argentina vs Uruguay: Di Maria scores the only goal as Copa America champions seal 1-0 win to continue unbeaten record, Messi makes a return
Angel Di Maria’s goal on Friday put Argentina on the verge of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Qatar as Lionel Messi was on the bench for the 1-0 win away to Uruguay. Messi was only called upon by coach Lionel Scaloni to play the final quarter of an hour as he made his comeback from knee and hamstring issues that saw him miss Paris Saint-Germain’s last two matches.
Di Maria’s sublime early finish at the Campeon del Siglo stadium in Montevideo was the difference between the sides in a match dominated by Uruguay. The result means Argentina — who are unbeaten in 26 matches — will qualify for the World Cup finals if they beat Brazil on Tuesday and any one of Colombia, Chile or Uruguay fail to win.
The defeat left Uruguay in a World Cup play-off spot, behind Colombia and Chile in the final two automatic qualification position on goal difference. Nahitan Nandez should have given Uruguay a fifth minute lead after Argentina failed to deal with a long throw into the box. A ricochet saw the ball land at Nandez’s feet seven yards from goal and while goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez did well to come out quickly and spread himself, Nandez’s finish was poor and straight at the Aston Villa stopper.
Argentina vs Uruguay: Di Maria scores the only goal as Copa America champions seal 1-0 win to continue unbeaten record, Messi makes a return
Uruguay were made to pay two minutes later as Paulo Dybala robbed a dawdling Joaquin Piquerez just outside the box and passed inside for Di Maria to stroke a glorious shot into the top corner. It was Argentina’s only shot at goal in the first half.
Luis Suarez provided Uruguay’s main threat, as he has done so many times before, and fired a free-kick narrowly over. On the half hour he hit an instinctive volley against the post before snatching at the rebound with his left foot and putting it wide. Uruguay were piling on the pressure and Matias Vecino had a chance to restore parity at the end of the first half but shot too close to Martinez.
After the break, Argentina continued to control possession without creating chances, while Uruguay were more dangerous, but without testing Martinez. Substitute Papu Gomez finally got off Argentina’s second shot, just before the hour mark, but it flashed wide, while Martinez had to backpedal to tip over a wayward Facundo Torres cross that looked like it was dipping in behind the goalkeeper’s head.
Argentina vs Uruguay: Di Maria scores the only goal as Copa America champions seal 1-0 win to continue unbeaten record, Messi makes a return
With Uruguay pushing to salvage something from the game, Joaquin Correa had a pair of chances on the break for Argentina but could not take advantage. Finally with a quarter of an hour to play, Scaloni summoned Messi from the bench but he had little impact on the game.
Uruguay substitute Agustin Alvarez had a gilt edged chance to snatch a draw six minutes from time but his header from five yards landed on top of the net. Moments later, Martinez let Alvarez’s shot squirm between his legs before quickly spinning around to grab the ball behind him before it crossed the line.
Official – No Cavani ❌
Tabarez has released Uruguay’s 🇺🇾 reserved squad for the crucial qualifiers next week vs Argentina and Bolivia pic.twitter.com/eZR84PDj8x
— Uruguay Football ENG (@UruguayFootENG) November 5, 2021
The defeat left Uruguay in a World Cup play-off spot, behind Colombia and Chile in the final two automatic qualification position on goal difference. Nahitan Nandez should have given Uruguay a fifth minute lead after Argentina failed to deal with a long throw into the box. A ricochet saw the ball land at Nandez’s feet seven yards from goal and while goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez did well to come out quickly and spread himself, Nandez’s finish was poor and straight at the Aston Villa stopper.
Uruguay were made to pay two minutes later as Paulo Dybala robbed a dawdling Joaquin Piquerez just outside the box and passed inside for Di Maria to stroke a glorious shot into the top corner. It was Argentina’s only shot at goal in the first half.
Luis Suarez provided Uruguay’s main threat, as he has done so many times before, and fired a free-kick narrowly over. On the half hour he hit an instinctive volley against the post before snatching at the rebound with his left foot and putting it wide. Uruguay were piling on the pressure and Matias Vecino had a chance to restore parity at the end of the first half but shot too close to Martinez.
After the break, Argentina continued to control possession without creating chances, while Uruguay were more dangerous, but without testing Martinez. Substitute Papu Gomez finally got off Argentina’s second shot, just before the hour mark, but it flashed wide, while Martinez had to backpedal to tip over a wayward Facundo Torres cross that looked like it was dipping in behind the goalkeeper’s head.
With Uruguay pushing to salvage something from the game, Joaquin Correa had a pair of chances on the break for Argentina but could not take advantage. Finally with a quarter of an hour to play, Scaloni summoned Messi from the bench but he had little impact on the game.
Uruguay substitute Agustin Alvarez had a gilt edged chance to snatch a draw six minutes from time but his header from five yards landed on top of the net. Moments later, Martinez let Alvarez’s shot squirm between his legs before quickly spinning around to grab the ball behind him before it crossed the line.
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