Nicolás Otamendi scored an early goal for Argentina in the 1-0 win vs. Paraguay in the World Cup qualifiers.
Otamendi started the match as captain, with Lionel Messi on the bench and he did what Messi normally does and that is score. Rodrigo De Paul sent a cross into the penalty area off a corner kick and the 35 year old defender struck the ball on the volley and scored.
Rodrigo De Paul would nearly get a goal himself but he hit the post before the end of the first half. Nicolás González had a chance at the very end of the first half but his effort went just wide. Alexis Mac Allister had the dribble of the match in the first half as he cut through several Paraguayan players inside the penalty area but was unable to score.
Lionel Messi came on as a substitute for Julian Alvarez in the second half and while he did not score, he did hit the post twice. The first was a corner kick where he nearly scored an olimpico goal but his effort hit the post.
Messi would get a free kick at the end of the match but once more, he would hit the post. Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni made substitutions in the second half with Leandro Paredes coming on for Enzo Fernández, Gio Lo Celso for Rodrigo De Paul and Lucas Ocampos for Nicolás González.
NICOLÁS OTAMENDI GOAL FOR ARGENTINA! 🇦🇷pic.twitter.com/ebDFr6LVkP
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) October 12, 2023
This angle from Alexis Mac Allister's dribble!pic.twitter.com/dEtxuY9NQl
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) October 12, 2023
Messi hits the post off the corner kick!pic.twitter.com/OSMq9VfAPA
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) October 13, 2023
