2022 World Cup Qualifiers: Lionel Messi's Argentina beat Peru 1-0

Peru missed a second-half penalty in a 1-0 loss to Argentina in Buenos Aires on Thursday, delivering another blow to their hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

Argentina's Lionel Messi (right) tackles a Peru defended in their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. (Photo: Reuters)

Trailing to a first-half goal from Lautaro Martinez, Peru had a golden opportunity to level the score when substitute Jefferson Farfan was brought down in the box 19 minutes into the second half as he attempted to round keeper Emiliano Martinez. However, Yoshimar Yotun’s penalty clipped the bar as the visitors fell to a seventh defeat in 12 qualifiers.

"Those that take penalties are the great players and the rest is luck," said Argentine goalkeeper Martinez.

Pero que clase de Cueva es este Yotún #Peruvsargentina pic.twitter.com/LKjWVELyWv — Marjorie (@Mayito8L) October 15, 2021

The win saw Lionel Scaloni’s side move on to 25 points, six behind leaders Brazil, who beat Uruguay 4-1. The top four qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 and the fifth-placed side goes into an inter-regional playoff.

Argentina's Christian Romero had a headed goal disallowed for offside after 10 minutes and Angel Di Maria missed two good chances while Peru's Gianluca Lapadula squandered an excellent opportunity after skilfully chesting down a cross just metres from goal. Lionel Messi's Argentina deservedly took the lead three minutes from halftime when Martinez glanced a header into the roof of the net. Peru fought valiantly in the second half but there was no way back after the penalty miss and Argentina had a second goal from Guido Rodriguez ruled out two minutes from time.

Earlier on Thursday, Bolivia won their second game in a row to keep their chances of reaching a first World Cup since 1994 alive with a 4-0 win over Paraguay in La Paz. Rodrigo Ramallo, Moises Villaroel, Victor Abrego and Roberto Fernandez scored to lift the home side on to 12 points, the same as Paraguay, who missed a penalty with the score at 1-0.

Ecuador remains third on 17 points after a 0-0 draw at Colombia, who are a point and a place behind. Colombia’s Yerry Minas thought he had scored with the last kick of the game but it was disallowed for handball.