Argentina 1-0 Peru: Martinez's first-half strike seals a narrow win

Argentina 1-0 Peru: Lautaro Martinez’s first-half strike seals a narrow win for Lionel Scaloni’s side as the visitors miss a penalty in a further blow to their World Cup 2022 qualification hopes

  • Argentina sit second in the South American qualification table for the World Cup
  • Lautaro Martinez’s first-half strike saw Argentina move a step closer to Qatar
  • However, they rode their luck too as Yoshimar Yotun’s penalty clipped the bar
  • Peru’s defeat leaves them five points off a qualification spot with six games left

Argentina are one step closer to qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar next year thanks to Lautaro Martinez as they edged past Peru.

Martinez scored the only goal of the game on 43 minutes to give the two-time champions victory in their World Cup qualifier, although they didn’t have it all their own way. 

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

Lautaro Martinez was Argentina’s matchwinner as they beat Peru 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier

The striker headed home the only goal of the match just before half-time in Buenos Aires

Martinez’s header proved too powerful for the Peru goalkeeper to stop on 43 minutes

Trailing to a first-half goal from 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.

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 play-off.

Peru squandered a chance to equalise when Yoshimar Yotun’s (right) penalty clipped the bar

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez celebrates after Yotun’s miss from 12 yards out

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.

Argentina deservedly took the lead three minutes from half time 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.


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