Qualifiers: Argentina lost 2-0 to Uruguay

The Argentine National Team was defeated last night by 2-0 against Uruguay in the match corresponding to the fifth date of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, at La Bombonera.Defender Ronald Araujo and striker Darwin Núñez scored the goals of the victory that broke the unbeaten record of the team led by Lionel Scaloni: their last defeat had been against Saudi Arabia in the debut in Qatar 2022.Al the same time, the National Team left its first points on the road in the South American Qualifiers, where it remains first with 12 points. Uruguay, emboldened after the win over Brazil, fell within two points (10). Uruguay played an outstanding first half, although it was not a surprise considering their performance in recent matches and the philosophy of their coach. Argentinian footballers leave the field. With Manuel Ugarte at the helm, Bielsa’s men took over the midfield and blocked Argentina’s paths, especially on the flanks. Tagliafico and Nico Gonzalez had virtually no contact with the ball and only Nahuel Molina managed to make some shots. In addition, both MacAllister and Enzo Fernandez were outnumbered in the face of the “celestial” tide that moved en bloc. Argentina were erratic in the face of pressure from Uruguay. He looked for loopholes, but without clarity. And only Messi, without the help of Rodrigo De Paul, offered something different in brushstrokes. At the end of the first period, Molina lost the ball to the insistent mark of Matías Viña, who threw the cross for Araujo’s unmarked arrival. Uruguay’s goal, which cut 753 minutes of clean sheets for “Dibu” Martínez.For the second half, Argentina gained meters in the opponent’s half, already with Lautaro Martínez in the attack and a delayed Julián Álvarez, in a game closer to his current situation in Manchester City. Likewise, MacAllister left the court and Enzo Fernandez stood as number “5”. Messi generated the only more dangerous situation for the world champion with the execution of a free kick that hit the crossbar, under the watchful eye of Sergio Rochet.The arrivals of Ángel Di María and Exequiel Palacios tried to provide solutions to a team that clashed against the tenacity of the “charrúa”. To progress on the pitch, Di María or Messi had to resort to dribbles and it showed how complex the match was for the world champions. Darwin Núñez made it 2-0 after a lethal counterattack by Uruguay. However, Argentina did not reach the equalizer and Núñez, in a solitary breakaway with Argentina launched into the attack, closed the match in the 87th minute.On the next date, Argentina will visit Brazil and Uruguay, who will be without Mathías Olivera due to his second yellow card, will be at home against Bolivia.

Original source in Spanish