Lionel Messi Buenos Aires/UNI: Lionel Messi converted a first-half penalty to goal as Argentina defeated Ecuador 1-0 in their opening South American zone World Cup qualifier on Thursday.
Messi put the hosts ahead in the 13th minute at La Bombonera after Lucas Ocampos was scythed down by Pervis Estupinan after a driving run into the penalty area.
The 33-year-old now has 71 goals in 139 appearances for the Albiceleste.
The two-time World Cup winners looked comfortable thereafter - despite managing only two shots on target -- to ensure their campaign started without a hitch.
Argentina will meet Bolivia in La Paz in their next qualifier on Tuesday while Ecuador will host Uruguay the same day.
Earlier on Thursday, Paraguay drew 2-2 at home to Peru and Uruguay beat Chile 2-1 in Montevideo.
The top four teams at the end of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) qualifying tournament will automatically earn a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The fifth-ranked team will advance to an inter-continental playoff over two legs.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
