Brazil vs Argentina
Argentina made history in Brazil as they inflicted their bitter rivals first-ever defeat at home in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match. A high-tempered affair at the Maracanã Stadium saw La Albiceleste overcome the Seleção 1-0 in the 111th meeting of the ‘Battle of the Americas’.
After kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes due to crowd trouble involving police and the Argentina players walking off the pitch as a result, the match, when it eventually got going, started in a feisty manner as tempers were clearly flared right from the off. The aggressive nature was symbolised by Rodrigo de Paul needing to change his bloodied shirt within 10 minutes of play, after receiving a slap to the face by Brazil’s Gabriel Jesus.
The game was being played at a breathless, frantic pace at times but such was the anger in both sets of players toward each other, it was a stop-start affair due to the sheer magnitude of fouls being committed. This prevented any actual chances on goal, in a somewhat disappointing affair, but still, you could not keep your eyes off it. The half ended with a lack of goalmouth action and just one shot on target in total.
The second half thankfully seemed to be more about the football as both teams came out completely focused and improvised outfits after the break. Brazil were looking the most dangerous and likely to break the deadlock as Gabriel Jesus went on a brilliant run towards goal and managed to poke the ball to his Arsenal teammate, Gabriel Martinelli, whose first-time effort was superbly stopped by Emiliano Martínez. Just as Brazil were on top, Argentina went against the run of play and opened the scoring themselves. Just past the hour mark, Giovani Lo Celso’s corner into the box was met by a towering Nicolás Otamendi, who produced a bullet header past Alisson. Otamendi was voted Flashscore Man of the Match.
Brazil seemed to struggle after falling behind as their opponents went into game-management mode, and their task was made even more difficult late on as Joelinton was sent off within 10 minutes of being on the pitch for an apparent shove to the face of De Paul. In the end, the home side could not find an equaliser and fell to a third consecutive defeat, and that result leaves the Seleção in a worrying sixth place in the qualifying. Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina however, return to winning ways after their defeat against Uruguay last time, and sit comfortably at the top of the group.
Courtesy: Soccerstand.com
