Messi, Vinicius have frustrating nights as Argentina loses and Brazil draws in World Cup qualifying from

Messi, Vinicius Have Frustrating Nights as Argentina and Brazil Falter in World Cup Qualifying

Argentina Loses to Ecuador

On Thursday, Argentina suffered a 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in Guayaquil, with Lionel Messi failing to make a significant impact. Ecuador took the lead in the first half through a penalty from Enner Valencia, and although Julian Alvarez equalized for Argentina in the second half, Ecuador secured the win with a goal from Torres in the 93rd minute. This is Argentina's first loss in World Cup qualifying since 2009.

What went wrong for Argentina?

There were several factors that contributed to Argentina's defeat. Firstly, they were without their key defender Cristian Romero, who was suspended. Secondly, the team looked disjointed and lacked creativity in attack. Messi, in particular, had a quiet game and was unable to provide the spark that Argentina needed.

Brazil Draws with Colombia

In another South American World Cup qualifying match, Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw by Colombia in Barranquilla. This is the first time that Brazil have failed to win a World Cup qualifying match since 2017.

Why did Brazil struggle?

Brazil dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Colombia defended resolutely and made it difficult for Brazil to break them down. Vinicius Jr., who has been in excellent form for Real Madrid this season, had a particularly disappointing game and was unable to make an impact.

Impact on World Cup qualifying

Despite these setbacks, both Argentina and Brazil remain in strong positions to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. Argentina is currently second in the CONMEBOL standings, while Brazil is top. However, with just four matches remaining, both teams will need to improve their performances if they want to secure their place at the tournament.

Conclusion

The results of these two matches have added some intrigue to the South American World Cup qualifying race. Argentina and Brazil will be looking to bounce back in their next matches, while Ecuador and Colombia will be hoping to continue their good form. With just four matches remaining, the race for qualification is far from over.