Messi’s Goal Lifts Argentina To Qualify For 2018 World Cup

Lionel Messi beat Claudio Bravo from the spot in the 16th minute after Angel Di Maria had been pushed from behind in the first quarter of the match.

But it was a poor, tense match on a terrible River Plate pitch.

Argentina, a shadow of the team that finished World Cup runners-up in 2014, moved into third place in the 10-nation South American group on 22 points.

They are eight behind leaders Brazil and one in arrears to second-placed Uruguay who had earlier lost 1-4 to Brazil.