Argentina 0 Peru 0: Lionel Messi left with World Cup hopes hanging by a thread after draw at La Bombonera
Messi took a shot that went out for a THROW on a night that leaves Argentina outside all five qualification spots for Russia 2018
ARGENTINA’S World Cup hopes hang by a thread after being held at La Bombonera.
Peru withstood everything Lionel Messi could throw at them – leaving Jorge Sampaoli’s side outside of all five qualification spots because of results elsewhere.
It mean the two-time tournament winners face missing a World Cup for the first time since Mexico 1970.
Argentina had chosen to play the match in the red-hot atmosphere of La Bombonera instead of the bigger Estadio Monumental – home to Boca Junior’s arch rivals River Plate.
The venue switch looked to be bringing out the best in Jorge Sampaoli’s stars with some sharp early play.
But Peru sat back and soaked up waves of attacks until Argentina almost broke the deadlock from a corner.
The ball was arced to the edge of the box with a Peru defender somehow getting a toe to Messi’s effort that diverted it wide.
If that was one from the training ground, Messi’s next opportunity was all his own creation.
A trademark wriggling run got him to the edge of the box but he could only curl to the left of the woodwork.
Frustrated, he produced a jaw-dropping effort to follow.
But this was one for Messi’s hall of shame – slicing a shot so badly it went for a THROW.
Dario Benedetto – preferred to Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi in attack – nodded over a decent chance before the break.
The striker, on his home ground, should have buried a chance when Messi played him through after the restart.
REMAINING CONMEBOL QUALIFIERS
Brazil v Chile
Ecuador v Argentina
Paraguay v Venezuela
Peru v Colombia
Uruguay v Bolivia
But Benedetto thumped the ball into the chest of Peru keeper Pedro Gallese, with the rebound dropping to Messi.
The Barcelona magician could only fire against the foot of the post as the visitors again survived.
Messi teed up Emiliano Rigoni but he inexplicably side-footed wide from four yards out.
And Peru striker Jose Paolo Guerrero almost won it with a free-kick that needed Manchester United keeper Sergio Romero to push it around the post.
The result leaves Argentina needing a win in Ecuador to guarantee a play-off against New Zealand.
If other results go for them, they could yet grab one of the two automatic spots still up for grabs.
