Lionel Messi Comes Off Bench But Otamendi Steals The Day (image-twitter/Argentina)

The Defending World Cup Champions Argentina brought down Paraguay on Thursday night for 1-0 in a South American World Cup qualifying match. Fans were anticipated about the first match featuring home hero Lionel Messi since the clubs 1-0 win over Ecuador.

But the defending champion did not require their superstar to make three wins in the qualifying matches. At the Estadio Monumental, Messi hit twice at the post after he came off the bench but struggled to win a goal. While Nicolas Otamendi earned his first goal of the World Cup qualifying matches with a powerful strike from the right side of the box in the third minute. And after that, Argentina never looked back.

The game was completely dominated by the Argentinian players with 75% ball possession. Paraguay struggled to get through the Argentinian defense and only managed to have one shot on goal the entire night.

Messi entered the game for Julian Alvarez in the second half and came close to scoring three times. A corner kick in the 76th minute bounced off the top left corner of the goal, Coronel blocked a shot from outside the box 15 minutes later, and Messi”s final free kick of the game deflected off the left post, reports USA Today.

The defensive night has bought a new record to Argentina’s keeper Emiliano Martinez. He smashed the national record for scoreless minutes in goal with 609.

“He continues writing history with his records. I hope it never ends,” teammate Rodrigo De Paul said postgame on the performance from Martinez.

Argentina will continue its qualifying match next week with a game against Peru on October 17.

While Argentina’s archnemesis Brazil left the pitch after a 1-1 draw against Venezuela in the South American World Cup Qualifier match.