Near-Miss for Messi as Argentina Draws with ParaguayNear-Miss for Messi as Argentina Draws with Paraguay Buenos Aires, Argentina – Lionel Messi came close to scoring his 100th international goal on Thursday, but Argentina was held to a 0-0 draw by Paraguay in a pulsating World Cup qualifier. The match was a tale of two halves, with Argentina dominating possession in the first half but failing to create clear-cut chances. Paraguay, meanwhile, grew into the game after the break and had several opportunities to take the lead. Messi, who had a relatively quiet game by his standards, had the best chance for Argentina in the 65th minute. The Barcelona forward latched onto a loose ball inside the penalty area, but his shot was well saved by Paraguay goalkeeper Anthony Silva. Paraguay nearly grabbed a late winner through Miguel Almiron, but his header from close range went just wide of the post. The draw leaves Argentina in second place in the South American World Cup qualifying standings, two points behind leaders Brazil. Paraguay, meanwhile, is in fifth place, four points off the playoff spot. Analysis Argentina will be disappointed not to have taken all three points against Paraguay, but they remain in a strong position to qualify for the World Cup. Messi, who is one goal away from becoming Argentina’s all-time leading scorer, will be hoping to continue his fine form in their next qualifier against Uruguay on Sunday. Paraguay, meanwhile, can take heart from their performance against Argentina. They showed good organization and determination, and they could have easily won the game. They will be hoping to build on this display when they face Chile in their next qualifier on Tuesday. Post-Match Comments Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni: “We played well in the first half, but we couldn’t create enough chances. In the second half, Paraguay came out strong and we struggled to deal with their pressure. We’re disappointed not to have won, but we’re still in a good position to qualify for the World Cup.” Paraguay coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto: “I’m proud of my players. They showed great heart and determination against a very good Argentina team. We had a few chances to win the game, but we couldn’t take them. Overall, I’m happy with the point.”
