Argentina continued their unstoppable run in the South American World Cup qualifiers with a commanding 3-0 home victory over Chile on Thursday. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez, and Paulo Dybala secured the win, despite the absence of superstar Lionel Messi and veteran Angel Di Maria.
Even without Messi and Di Maria, who were honoured at the Monumental Stadium for their contributions to Argentina’s national team, the reigning Copa America and World Cup champions were in complete control. The match showcased Argentina’s depth and attacking prowess, leaving Chile with little hope of staging an upset.
Argentina broke the deadlock just three minutes into the second half when Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister expertly converted a cross from Julian Alvarez, giving the home side a 1-0 lead. Alvarez, who has been in stellar form, extended the advantage with a stunning long-range strike in the 84th minute.
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In stoppage time, substitute Paulo Dybala capped off the dominant performance with a clinical finish, sealing Argentina’s 3-0 triumph.
The win puts Argentina firmly at the top of the South American World Cup qualifying standings with 18 points, five points clear of second-placed Uruguay, who face Paraguay on Friday. With their qualification campaign in full swing, Argentina’s quest for another World Cup title looks increasingly promising.
Argentina is set to face Colombia in a highly anticipated rematch of the Copa America final on Tuesday, while Chile will host Bolivia, who secured a 1-0 win over Venezuela earlier in the day.
