Lionel Messi Scores on Argentina Return in 3-0 Win Over Venezuela

Argentina scores twice in three minutes late in the second half, including a mis-hit effort from Lionel Messi, to establish a 3-0 win over Venezuela in the World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires. The team has already qualified for Qatar before this game.

Argentina was also on top throughout against the last-placed side in the South American qualifying group and the only one of the 10 South American sides never to reach the World Cup finals. 

They had the breakthrough their pressure deserved 10 minutes before half-time when Nicolas Gonzalez headed home Rodrigo De Paul from an inviting low cross from 6 meters down. 

Substitute Angel Di Maria scored the second goal in the 79th minute when he made a  pass from De Paul and then shot past three Venezuelan defenders from outside the box.

It was Messi who got the third goal three minutes later when he picked up a pass from Di Maria before kicking the ball past a helpless keeper, Wuilker Farinez. 

De Paul said, “We are very happy. We love playing in this shirt. The best thing about this group is that it treats every game as a final.” 

This was Venezuela’s 10th defeat in their last 12 games and the win extended Argentina’s unbeaten run under coach Lionel Scaloni to 30 games going back to July 2019. The final round of the game will take place on Tuesday next week.