Argentina thanked their Spanish-based legionnaires Leo Messi and Sergio Aguero for returning the two-time world champions to winning ways as both scored in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Uruguay.
Barcelona’s Messi and Atletico Madrid’s Aguero put the Albiceleste in command with their dual salvo in the opening 13 minutes and that proved enough to end a five-match winless run.
A recent streak of draws and dearth of goals had left Messi and company playing second fiddle in the South American standings to Paraguay, who preserved their four-point lead with a 1-0 win in Colombia thanks to Salvador Cabanas’ early decider which handed the hosts a third straight loss.
But Argentina kept the pressure on rivals Brazil as they moved onto 16 points from nine games with the qualifying program now at the half-way stage.
Only the first four countries are guaranteed a place in the finals in South Africa in two year’s time, with fifth place only securing the chance of qualification via a playoff against the fourth-placed team from the CONCACAF group.
The mercurial Messi used his head in nodding Argentina into a sixth-minute lead against Uruguay and Aguero smashed home the second seven minutes later to cheer a 50,000 crowd in the Estadio Monumental after Esteban Cambiasso had hit the post when fed by the industrious Carlos Tevez.
But Argentina had to sweat and overcome some nervous moments as they reverted to recent cautious type after Diego Lugano reduced the deficit five minutes before the break from close range.
Despite the pressing of Messi, Tevez and Juan Riquelme — and sterling work in the center by Javier Mascherano — the visitors held firm in a niggly second half which saw a rash of bookings.
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino, meanwhile, congratulated his men on a tough job well done in Bogota against Colombia as they maintained their early charge with a sixth win in nine games.
“I thought we were excellent at the back and that’s what formed the bedrock of this win,” said Martino, who saluted Cabanas’ goal on his comeback from injury at the Estadio El Campin. “That was a real piece of opportunism from a player who allowed us to get our noses in front early, which meant we could then sit back and rely on quick counterattacks.”
Eduardo Lara, Colombia’s new coach following the sacking of Jorge Luis Pinto, complained that the Paraguayans “played with eight, and sometimes nine men behind the ball. And they were very physical.”
At the wrong end of the table Bolivia moved off the bottom with a 3-0 win over Peru at altitude in La Paz aided by an early brace from local hero Joaquin Botero, who moved ahead of 1960s favorite Victor Ugarte as his country’s all-time highest scorer with 17.
Ronald Garcia scored a late third against a hapless Peruvian side who are now bottom of the heap.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
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