Argentina is on the verge of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Qatar, thanks to Angel Di Maria’s goal on Friday. Lionel Messi was on the bench for the 1-0 win over Uruguay.
Coach Lionel Scaloni only asked Messi to participate for the final quarter of an hour as he returned from knee and hamstring problems that forced him to miss PSG’s last two matches.
The difference between the teams in a contest controlled by Uruguay was Di Maria’s stunning early finish at the Campeon del Siglo stadium in Montevideo.
Argentina, who have gone undefeated in their last 26 matches, will qualify for the World Cup finals if they beat Brazil on Tuesday and one of Colombia, Chile, or Uruguay fails to qualify.
“This team has a lot of courage, and you have to win even if you don’t play well,” Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said.
“Today’s victory was a significant step forward. We have earned it since we put in a lot of effort.”
Uruguay is now in the World Cup play-offs, trailing Colombia and Chile in the final two automatic qualification spots on goal difference.
After Argentina failed to deal with a long throw into the box, Nahitan Nandez should have given Uruguay the lead in the fifth minute.
The ball landed at Nandez’s feet seven yards from goal after a ricochet, and while Martinez did well to run out fast and spread himself, Nandez’s strike was poor and direct at the Aston Villa goalkeeper.
Two minutes later, Uruguay were punished when Paulo Dybala robbed a sluggish Joaquin Piquerez just outside the box and passed inside to Angel Di Maria, who stroked a beautiful goal into the top corner.
Argentina had only one shot on goal in the first half.
Uruguay’s primary threat was given by Luis Suarez, who, as he has done so many times before, sent a free-kick narrowly over the bar.
He fired an instinctive volley against the post on the half-hour mark before collecting the rebound with his left foot and sending it wide.
Uruguay was putting pressure on, and Matias Vecino had a chance to equalize at the conclusion of the first half, but he shot too near to Martinez.
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Argentina continued to control possession after the break without creating chances, while Uruguay looked more dangerous but failed to test Martinez.
Just before the hour mark, substitute Papu Gomez got Argentina’s second shot off, but it went wide, while Martinez had to backpedal to tip over a wayward Facundo Torres cross that appeared to be dipping in past the goalkeeper’s head.
With Uruguay attempting to salvage a point, Argentina’s Joaquin Correa had a couple of chances on the break but was unable to capitalize.
With a quarter of an hour remaining, Scaloni finally brought Messi off the bench, but he had little impact on the game.
Six minutes from time, Uruguay substitute Agustin Alvarez had a golden chance to salvage a point, but his header from five yards bounced on top of the net.
Martinez then spun around to grab the ball behind him before it crossed the line, allowing Alvarez’s shot to crawl between his legs.