Salomon Rondon grabbed a second-half equaliser as Venezuela held Argentina to a 1-1 attract South America’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Thursday whereas 10-man Bolivia upset Colombia 1-0.
The return of Lionel Messi to Argentina’s beginning line-up appeared to have put the world champions on the best way to victory after the Inter Miami famous person’s free-kick arrange a gap objective for Nicolas Otamendi after 13 minutes.
However a battling efficiency by Venezuela in entrance of their house followers in Maturin was rewarded halfway by means of the second half when the 35-year-old Rondon met Yeferson Soteldo’s cross with a header that flew previous Argentina goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
Regardless of the dropped factors, 2022 World Cup winners Argentina stay firmly on the right track for a spot on the 2026 finals, that are being staged in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
With the event expanded to 48 groups, the highest six finishers in South America’s 10-team round-robin qualifying competitors will earn a ticket to the finals.
Argentina lead the standings with 19 factors from 9 video games, three factors away from second-placed Colombia, who suffered a shock 1-Zero defeat to Bolivia in different qualifying motion on Thursday.
Bolivia recovered from the first-half dismissal of midfielder Hector Cuellar to dig out victory in a recreation performed within the skinny air of El Alto, which is located at round 4,150m (13,600 ft) above sea stage.
Terceros stunner
An excellent particular person objective from Miguel Terceros handed the Bolivians their fourth victory of qualifying and vaulted them up into the automated qualification positions.
Bolivia’s fortunes have taken a dramatic upturn because the workforce began taking part in house qualifiers in El Alto, which is simply over 500m increased than the Bolivians’ standard house venue of the Estadio Hernando Siles in close by La Paz.
Bolivia opted to maneuver fixtures to El Alto after shedding two out of their opening three house qualifiers in La Paz final yr.
The transfer has paid off, with Thursday’s 1-Zero win coming after a 4-Zero rout of Venezuela on the identical venue in September.
After claiming a shock 2-1 win away to Chile final month, Bolivia are actually sitting in fifth place within the South American standings with 12 factors from 9 video games.
Bolivia final certified for the World Cup on the 1994 finals in the USA, and performed on the 1930 and 1950 tournaments after receiving invitations to compete.
Terceros’s successful objective arrived within the 58th minute, with the 20-year-old winger who performs for Brazilian membership Santos slicing in from the proper flank, shimmying previous Colombian defenders Jhon Lucumi and Kevin Castano and unleashing a left-footed thunderbolt that flew into the highest nook.
Bolivia are stage on factors with Ecuador, who moved as much as fourth place within the desk on Thursday after a 0-Zero draw with Paraguay in Quito.
In Thursday’s different recreation, struggling Chile — who’re one place off the underside of the standings with simply 5 factors from eight video games — host sixth-placed Brazil.
