With the match delayed by 30 minutes due to heavy rain on the pitch, Argentina and Venezuela would draw 1-1 in a match that was played on a very sloppy pitch.
Venezuela took several efforts on goal in the first half but Gerónimo Rulli made several saves to deny the hosts. Argentina were awarded a free kick and it was Lionel Messi who took it and Nicolás Otamendi was the first to the loose ball and he scored to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni would bring in Gonzalo Montiel for Thiago Almada at half time. Venezuela would get a chance early on with a header but Rulli once more would make the save.
At 1-0, it was a cross into the penalty area and Rondón with a header and he would score to draw Venezuela level. Lionel Scaloni would bring on Leo Balerdi for Gio Lo Celso.
Rodrigo De Paul played a through ball into Lionel Messi but his effort from close ragne was saved by the goalkeeper. Lautaro Martínez and Leandro Paredes were substituted in for Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez.
The match would end in a 1-1 draw. The Argentina national team play Bolivia on Tuesday.
Let’s admit Venezuela adopted to the conditions better than us and they played tactical aerial game. We continued playing our ground football and messed up. Messi and Almada’s misses cost us the game eventually.
*adapted
Worst ground. In this ground two teams are equal
Pezzella actually had a decent game.
Almada had a great chance on the counter attack to make it 2 nil but he preferred to dribble rather than pass to 2 players waiting.. that was the difference in this game
Brazil start today’s game at 7th place. For once I want Chileans to win. Dorival junior has predicted brazil to reach wc 2026 final. He definitely looks unlikely to survive this campaign
All around bad.. this game should not have been played in this condition. Tip my hat to Venezuela for having a great performance, but truly it should have been postponed until tomorrow..
I feel like nothing was going their way, a few good plays here and there, but our chances were bad and the puddles did not help.
Who was the weakest link in your opinion tonight????
Lo Celso, Almada and Rulli with his poor ball distribution.
Almada was selfish. Otherwise we could have been up by 2 goals. Messi missed the easiest chance. Montiel allowed their number 10 to float the ball into the penalty area. So everyone contributed to the poor outcome today except Tagliafico, Rulli and Otamendi.