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Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw in their South American Qualifier for the 2022 FIFA World Cup at La Bombonera by Paraguay. The riveting stalemate saw the hosts being made to work for the point by a well-drilled opposition as Lionel Messi was denied what would've been a game-winner by VAR.
The first half saw plenty of chances created by both sides, but neither team was very clinical in their approach. Only two of Argentina's seven shots hit the target, while Paraguay's only shot on target was Romero's spot-kick.
The visitors only enjoyed 31% possession in the first 45 minutes, but as we have seen far too often, higher possession doesn't automatically guarantee a favourable result. Paraguay drew first blood in the 21st minute after Miguel Almirón was fouled in the box by Nicolas Otamendi and Ángel Romero calmly dispatched the ball into the back of the net.
La Albiceleste started to threaten the visitors after going behind but struggled to find their way past a stubborn defence, in part due to their own sloppy passing in the final third. Exequiel Palacios, who was playing well in midfield, picked up an injury and had to be taken off in the 29th minute with Giovani Lo Celso coming in.
The Tottenham Hotspur star made an instant impact and delivered a lovely ball from the corner which was headed in by Nicolás González in equally wonderful fashion.
Argentina started the second half on the front foot and almost went ahead in the 60th minute through captain Lionel Messi, only for the goal to be chalked off after a lengthy VAR review.
The hosts tightened the screws after this and played the last 30 minutes of the game with renewed energy. Messi's free-kick was deflected behind for a corner by the 36-year-old Antony Silva, who found himself much more occupied after the break.
Here are the five talking points from the game, which saw Argentina stretch their unbeaten run across all competitions to 10 games.
#5 Giovani Lo Celso makes an instant impact
Giovani Lo Celso came on in the 29th minute after an unfortunate injury to Palacios, and just minutes later set up Argentina's only goal of the game through an exquisite delivery from a corner. His pass was met with a powerful header by Nicolás González.
The player found himself in the thick of things in the midfield after the break as well. He almost picked up his second assist of the game in the 60th minute after linking well with Lionel Messi, who made the net bulge with a first-time finish. However, VAR intervened and disallowed the goal after the referee determined that a Paraguayan player had been fouled in the build-up.
Lo Celso was part of most moves after coming on and was composed with the ball at his feet. He could've had an even greater impact if he'd been given a place in the starting XI.
#4 Argentina were wasteful in front of goal
In the first half, both sides fought well for the ball and we saw two goals being scored before the whistle. In the second half, for the most parts, there was one-way traffic in terms of attack, as Paraguay allowed Argentina to move the ball forward and preferred to sit back and defend.
In both halves, the wastefulness of Argentinean attackers was there for all to see as they failed to make anything out of their 69% possession. By the time the final whistle was blown, the hosts had recorded 16 shots on target, with only five of them hitting the target.
Messi's free-kick that was tipped over by Silva onto the crossbar was the closest they came to scoring in the second half. They gave away possession in dangerous positions, and had to be content with a draw when they could've easily had the win.
Also Read: Top 10 quotes on Lionel Messi
#3 Lionel Messi kept quite by Balbuena and Co.
Lionel Messi headed into the game having delivered a Man of the Match performance for Barcelona a week ago, scoring twice in the club's 5-2 win over Real Betis. It was expected that the player would put in a similar kind of shift in the national colours, but a solid defensive display from Paraguay's back four and a bit of bad luck prevented him from doing so.
Messi was not very influential in the first half but did up his game in after the break. He linked well with substitutes Lo Celso and Di Maria, and also won a couple of free-kicks in dangerous positions.
In the 60th minute, just as the captain thought he had put his team ahead, his goal was ruled out by VAR. The closest he came to delivering the much-needed match-winner was with his free-kick from 25 yards out rattled the crossbar in the 71st minute.
Paraguay defenders, led by West Ham United centre back Fabián Balbuena, also deserve the credit for not letting the 33-year-old get too close to the goal with the ball at his feet.
#2 Well-deserved draw and point for Paraguay
Though Argentina did not do themselves any favours by being wasteful with possession and displaying lacklustre shooting, Paraguay held their own against their mighty neighbours in the game.
La Albirroja did well to take the lead in the 21st minute through a Ángel Romero penalty after Newcastle United winger Almiron was brought down in the box by Otamendi. They were unlucky to concede from a corner of all things just before the break, but managed to keep the scoreline intact in the second half when Argentina assumed the control of the game.
It was an important point for them as they maintained their unbeaten status in the qualifiers. Paraguay will now head into a relatively easy home fixture against Bolivia with their heads held high.
#1 Crucial calls by the match officials determined the outcome of the game
The match officials were very busy tonight and played a key role in determining the outcome of the game. In the first half, they rightly awarded Paraguay with a penalty after Almiron was fouled by Otamendi, which led to the visitors taking the lead in the 21st minute.
In the second half, they again made the right call to rule out the possibility of a second penalty for Paraguay after it was determined that a cross hit Otamendi on the shirt not on the arm, despite fervent appeals by the visitors.
VAR, however, was involved in a couple of contentious decisions. Questions will likely be asked about why Angel Romero was not shown a straight red card for his challenge on Exequiel Palacios that forced the latter off the pitch.
