World Cup qualifiers: Draw deal for Lionel Messi

Argentina’s Lionel Mesi after scoring against Chile on Thursday. Pic/Getty Images

Lionel Messi scored a penalty but Argentina missed out on the chance to take over top spot of South American World Cup qualifying from rivals Brazil after a 1-1 draw with Chile on Thursday. Messi also clipped the woodwork and forced three impressive saves out of Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo but Alexis Sanchez earned the dogged visitors a point in Santiago del Estero. The draw leaves Argentina a point behind Brazil, the only remaining side with a perfect qualifying record. Chile are down in sixth, still two points off the qualification places having won only one of their five matches so far.

Leo happy

Argentina captain Messi said he was happy with the result, despite failing to win. "The team had a good dynamic, it wasn't easy playing again after so much time," he said. It was more than six months since the last round of qualifiers after two matchdays were postponed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was a special match given it was the first without Diego" Maradona, the legendary 1986 World Cup winning captain who died in November. The visitors, who were missing veteran midfielder Arturo Vidal - hospitalised with COVID-19 - had the first clear sight of goal on 15 minutes but Eduardo Vargas fizzed a low effort narrowly wide from 20 yards.

Argentina were on top, though, and the hosts were awarded a penalty following a VAR check when Guillermo Maripan recklessly brought down Lautaro Martinez in the box. Messi casually rolled the ball low to the left of former Barcelona and Manchester City keeper Bravo, who dived the wrong way on 24 minutes.

Sanchez strikes

The lead lasted only 12 minutes before Inter Milan forward Sanchez tapped home into an empty net from four yards out after a stretching Gary Medel turned Charles Aranguiz's freekick back across goal.

Argentina team pay tribute to Maradona

Lionel Messi was among the Argentina players and coaches who paid tribute to Diego Maradona in a statue unveiling ceremony before their World Cup qualifier against Chile. Maradona died on November 25 in Buenos Aires after a cardiac arrest. He was 60. Argentina's last official match took place weeks before Maradona died. Messi, his teammates and coach Lionel Scaloni watched the unveiling of a bronze statue of the great at the Unico Madres de Ciudades stadium, in Santiago del Estero on Thursday.

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