MONTEVIDEO: Argentina didn’t miss Lionel Messi and other key players as they edged to the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a superb strike from Thiago Almada earned them a 1-0 victory over Uruguay on Friday.

The reigning world champions looked to be headed for a draw after a tense tussle against a Uruguay side who defeated the Argentinians 2-0 in Buenos Aires earlier in qualifying.

But Almada scored with a powerful curled shot from the edge of the box, putting the defending champions one point away from their direct spot in the tournament next year.

Argentina lead the round robin competition with 28 points after 13 matches, and can secure their place with a home draw with Brazil on Tuesday.

The last time the two football powerhouses clashed, Argentina won 1-0 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Lionel Scaloni’s side already have 15 points ahead of seventh-placed Bolivia, with only five rounds to the end of the competition.

Scaloni said Argentina’s victory showed the depth of their squad after Messi, Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybia all missed out due to injury.

“The national team is a team. When one is missing, another steps up,” Scaloni told reporters. “We had some very important absentees but we have great players to go out on the field. The team is always more than just the names.”

Earlier, Ecuador defeated Venezuela 2-1 and moved into second place, edging close to reaching the tournament once again.

Brazil are third with 21 points, one ahead of Uruguay and Paraguay. Colombia, with 19 points, are sixth.

The top six teams will secure direct berths to the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The seventh-placed team among the 10 of the region will still have a chance to qualify through an international playoff.

Uruguay, playing in a full Estadio Centenario against their arch-rivals, took the initiative and had the clearest chances in the first half. But Argentina managed to hold their ground and grabbed all three points with a moment of magic that stunned the Centenario.

Gathering the ball on the edge of the area, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder took a touch and uncorked a ferocious strike that flew into the top corner beyond the dive of Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.

The only blemish for Argentina on an otherwise solid night’s work came deep into stoppage time when Nicolas Gonzalez was dismissed after catching Uruguay defender Nahitan Nandez with a high boot in a rash challenge.

Two goals from Enner Valencia sealed the points for Ecuador, who are bidding to qualify for the World Cup for the fifth time in the nation’s history.

The veteran striker broke through the Venezuelan defence in the 39th minute and scored with a powerful right-footed shot from an acute angle.

In the first minute of the second half, he added the second after a run on the left flank ended in a classy poach over goalkeeper Rafael Romo.

Valencia could have had a third from the spot in the 69th but he missed it.

Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece saluted his team’s performance but cautioned against complacency as they close in on a World Cup berth.

“When things are going well, like today when we’ve won three games in a row, we have to be cautious, calm, humble, and have a lot of discipline to continue growing in what’s coming up,” Beccacece said.

Jhonder Cadiz scored for Venezuela in injury time.

Venezuela have not won for nine straight games and remain in eighth place. They still have a chance of qualifying for the first time in history.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2025