The Inter player brings the Albiceleste forward, then the Granata’s great equalizer. The decision was made in the second half with a header from Alderete. Ecuador beats Bolivia
Argentina’s spectacular flop in Paraguay. After Brazil, Scaloni’s men also fell, playing badly and allowing themselves to come back. Lautaro, on the pitch the whole game, scored, but it wasn’t enough: Sanabria’s overhead kick and Alderete’s winning header gave the national team the victory led by another Argentine, Gustavo Alfaro. So it ended 2-1 for Paraguay which confirmed their great form: since September they have collected three wins (one against Brazil) and two draws in five games. If Colombia beat Uruguay tonight, they will reach the top of the Albiceleste. Poker from Ecuador to Bolivia.
Paraguay-Argentina 2-1
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Scaloni opts for a 4-3-1-2 with Messi behind Julian Alvarez and Lautaro, forcing overtime. The Argentine assumption, a lot of dribble, but sterile, and little attack. Paraguay, led by Tony Sanabria, are square and aggressive. After a few minutes, he comes close to taking the lead with a corner move that leads to a shot from Gomez, the best of the red and white. In the 11th minute the quality of the world champions comes out: a great ball from Enzo Fernandez to Lautaro, Toro hooks the ball and crosses with the left side, giving his team the lead. The Inter striker reaches 31 goals and joins Di Maria and Higuain in sixth place in the ranking of the best scorers in the history of Argentina. Paraguay did not give up, hitting the crossbar from a corner and equalizing in the 19th minute with a great overhead kick from Tony Sanabria: perfect coordination and the ball into the corner to make it 1-1. In the second half the decision was made with a header from Alderete in the 47th minute after a cut cross from Gomez. Argentina ate the equalizer on the counterattack with De Paul and in the final attack attacked in a disorganized way without finding a way to score.
Ecuador-Bolivia 4-0
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Ecuador’s performance can only be explained by the result. Bolivia, eighth in the standings, is ahead from every point of view: 17 shots on 1 and 76% of ball possession for La Tricolor, led by the wonderful Alan Minda, born in 2003 and author of a brace between the first and the second. time. The game was opened in the 26th minute with a penalty from Enner Valencia, who was also the protagonist of a brilliantly clear shot in the first minutes. In the 43rd minute VAR canceled his brace as well. Ecuador was defeated 2-0 in the 28th minute by Minda: he managed to beat Viscarra. In the 49th minute three Gonzalo Plata headers and in the 61st minute, Minda won the puck again with a right-handed score into the corner. A note of merit for the Bolivian goalkeeper, authored by at least three excellent saves. Ecuador is in fifth place with 16 points, while Bolivia is still in eighth place with 12.
How has Ecuador’s performance in the qualifiers impacted their chances of qualifying for the World Cup?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Expert on South American Football
Editor: Good morning, everyone! Today, we have a special guest in the studio, Dr. Lucas Marquez, a renowned expert in South American football. Lucas, thank you for joining us!
Dr. Marquez: Good morning! Thank you for having me. It’s always a pleasure to discuss the beautiful game, especially with such exciting matches happening recently.
Editor: Let’s dive right into it! Last night, Argentina suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Paraguay. What are your thoughts on the Argentinian performance?
Dr. Marquez: Well, it was certainly not one of their finest moments. Scaloni’s men started brightly with Lautaro Martinez scoring early, but they seemed to lose momentum as the match progressed. It’s concerning to see a team with so much talent not being able to maintain their form, especially after their recent struggles in Brazil.
Editor: Lautaro’s goal marked his 31st for Argentina, placing him among the top scorers in the nation’s history. How crucial is it for a player like him to keep scoring, even in losses?
Dr. Marquez: It’s incredibly important. Goals can bring confidence not only to the player but also to the entire team. Lautaro has shown he can perform at high levels, but if the rest of the team doesn’t support him, it can diminish his impact. In matches like these, every player needs to step up for a collective effort.
Editor: Paraguay looked formidable, especially with players like Tony Sanabria leading the charge. What do you make of their resurgence in the qualifiers?
Dr. Marquez: Paraguay has always had a strong footballing culture, but it’s interesting to see them regain some momentum under Gustavo Alfaro’s management. They’ve been more aggressive and willing to take risks, which is reflected in their recent results. Winning against Brazil and now Argentina showcases that they can compete with the best.
Editor: You mentioned their aggression. Does this style of play give Paraguay a tactical advantage over teams like Argentina?
Dr. Marquez: Absolutely. Paraguay employed a very structured approach, staying compact and looking for opportunities to counter-attack. Argentina, on the other hand, seemed to rely too heavily on individual dribbling, making their attacking play predictable. When facing a disciplined team like Paraguay, that predictability can become a liability.
Editor: Do you think Argentina should reconsider their strategy moving forward, especially with big matches ahead?
Dr. Marquez: Definitely. They need to refine their approach. While they have world-class talent, they must develop a cohesive game plan that emphasizes teamwork and utilizes the strengths of all players. This is particularly important now, as they cannot afford further slip-ups in the qualifiers.
Editor: Lastly, we should touch on Ecuador’s impressive 4-0 win against Bolivia. What can we draw from Ecuador’s performance in this match?
Dr. Marquez: Ecuador has been quietly formidable in this round of qualifiers. Their attacking play was sharp, and they executed their game plan flawlessly against Bolivia. This victory demonstrates their growing confidence and tactical maturity. If they can maintain this level of performance, they could be contenders for a top position.
Editor: Thank you, Lucas, for your insights! It’s clear that the South American qualifiers are heating up, and teams are stepping up their game. We look forward to seeing how the situation unfolds in the coming matches.
Dr. Marquez: Thank you for having me! It’s going to be an exciting journey ahead in this tournament.
Editor: And thank you to our audience for tuning in! Stay with us for more updates and analysis on the world of football.
