BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi’s second-half goal gave Argentina a 1-0 home win over Ecuador on Thursday to get their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign off on the right foot.

World champions Argentina were dominant in possession but frustrated in attack as they struggled to make the breakthrough.

Captain Messi, however, continued the fine form he is showing with club side Inter Miami by scoring from a free kick after 77 minutes.

“We played against a great team, with good players and physically strong,” Messi told reporters.

“Everyone always wants to beat Argentina and even more so now that we are the world champions. We can’t relax, we have to improve on what we’ve been doing.

“The objective is to qualify for the World Cup again. We really enjoyed what we did but we have to look ahead.”

Messi’s goal also tied him with close friend Luis Suarez of Uruguay as the all-time top scorer in the South American qualifying competition with 29.

“It’s a pleasure for me that we are both there,” said Messi, who has now scored 104 international goals. “Given what the qualifiers mean for us in South American football, it’s a very nice thing for both of us.”

Argentina will next play at Bolivia on Tuesday.

In other qualifiers, Paraguay drew 0-0 with Peru while Colombia claimed a 1-0 home win over Venezuela.

A 46th minute header from Rafael Santos Borre, from a pinpoint Jhon Arias cross, was enough to earn three points for Colombia in Barranquilla.

The victory ensured a winning start for new Colombia coach, Argentine Nestor Lorenzo, who was taking charge of his first competitive game.

Colombia failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup in Qatar while Venezuela are hoping to earn their first ever appearance in a World Cup finals.

Meanwhile, Peru’s difficult task in Ciudad del Este became harder after they lost defender Luis Advncula on the stroke of half-time when he was dismissed for a second yellow card.

But they held on for a point in what was a pulsating, high-tempo encounter.

The qualification process for the expanded 48-team World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, offers two extra places for South America with six teams qualifying directly.

The seventh out of the 10 nations will head to an inter-continental play-off.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2023