Argentina hopes suffer after draw
BUENOS AIRES: The prospect of a World Cup without Lionel Messi edged nearer to reality on Thursday as Argentina struggled to a 0-0 draw with Peru which left their qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
Despite dominating possession in front of a raucous home support at Buenos Aires’ fabled “La Bombonera” stadium, Messi and Argentina once again drew a blank to the dismay of their fans.
The result left Argentina in sixth place in South America’s marathon qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia. The first four teams in the standings qualify automatically, with the fifthplaced side going into a playoff against New Zealand in November. Argentina’s draw sets up a nail-biting finale next week, with only two points separating thirdplaced Chile and seventh-placed Paraguay. All could yet clinch an automatic qualification spot depending on results elsewhere.
Argentina’s final qualifier is a challenging away trip to Ecuador in the thin air of Quito.
Meanwhile, England qualified for the World Cup after Harry Kane’s late goal have them a 1-0 win over Slovenia at Wembley Stadium.
Other results: Bolivia 0 Brazil 0; Venezuela 0 Uruguay 0; Chile 2 (Vargas 22, Sanchez 85) Ecuador 1 (Ibarra 82); Colombia 1 (Falcao 79) Paraguay 2 (Cardozo 89, Sanabria 90+1)