September 06, (THEWILL) – Argentina strengthened their lead in South American World Cup qualifying with a convincing 3-0 victory over Chile at home on Thursday. The win came despite the absence of key players Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria, demonstrating the team’s depth and quality.
The match remained goalless in the first half, but Argentina broke the deadlock just three minutes after the restart. Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister found the net, converting a cross from Julian Alvarez. The Atletico Madrid forward later added his name to the scoresheet with a long-range effort in the 84th minute.
Paulo Dybala, who came on as a substitute, put the final touch on the game by scoring in stoppage time. This comprehensive win extended Argentina’s lead at the top of the qualifying table to five points, with 18 points total. Uruguay, currently in second place, will face Paraguay on Friday.
The match also served as an opportunity to honour Angel Di Maria, who recently announced his retirement from international football. The Monumental Stadium paid tribute to the veteran winger, recognising his contributions to the national team over the years.
Argentina’s next challenge will be an away fixture against Colombia on Tuesday, revisiting their Copa America final matchup. Meanwhile, Chile will host Bolivia who, earlier on Thursday, claimed a victory over Venezuela.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
