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A magnificent volley from Lautaro Martinez was enough to give world champion Argentina a 1-0 win over Peru while Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw at home to Uruguay in South American World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.
Argentina remains on top of the Conmebol standings with qualification for the 2026 tournament surely just a matter of time.
It was far from a vintage performance from Lionel Scaloni’s team, but a moment of magic from Inter Milan’s Martinez proved decisive at the Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Lionel Messi floated in a cross from the left and Martinez leapt into the air, leaning back as he cracked a thundering left-footed volley past Pedro Gallese.
Argentina’s eighth win from 12 games leaves it on 25 points at the top of the standings, five points ahead of Uruguay, which earned a valuable point at Brazil.
Five-time World Cup winners Brazil labored for long stretches of the game in Salvador and fell behind to a fine finish from Uruguay’s Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde in the 55th minute.
But seven minutes later Brazil equalized when a headed clearance fell kindly to Gerson, who smashed home a perfectly-struck volley.
Gabriel Martinelli went close to a winner when he showed a deft touch to switch feet before a volley which brought a fine save out of Sergio Rochet.
The draw leaves Brazil in fifth on 18 points, a point behind fourth-placed Colombia, which suffered an upset 1-0 home defeat to Ecuador in Barranquilla.
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Paul Kennedy is the Editor in Chief & General Manager of Soccer America. More by Paul Kennedy
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