Ten minutes of dominance were enough for Argentina to overcome Paraguay and close their classification to the quarterfinals of the Copa América.
With a goal from Alejandro Gómez at 10 minutes, the Albiceleste won 1-0 on Monday at the Mané Garrincha Olympic Stadium in Brasilia and took command of Group A with seven points that allow them to secure a place in the round of the best eight of the tournament.
Chile, also classified, escorts him with five; followed by Paraguay (3); Uruguay (1) and Bolivia without points.
Argentina, aiming for its 15th continental title, presented six modifications regarding the victory over Uruguay. The change of parts did not modify the final result, but in the development the team was below the level that it had shown in its previous presentations.
Captain Messi, who reached 147 appearances in Argentina and equaled the record of Javier Mascherano, already retired, shared the offensive with Ángel Di María and Sergio Agüero, three historical survivors of the world runner-up in 2014. As a representative of the renewal, he accompanied them Gomez.
The old society paid off when Messi took the ball in midfield, accelerated and teamed up with Di María, who saw the hole in the Paraguayan last line and assisted Gómez. The Sevilla midfielder bit her with his right boot before the departure of goalkeeper Antony Silva.
After the advantage, Argentina turned off as if in that start the available energy had been exhausted.
"They come from playing many games and others like me, playing few, but we started strong," Di María said on the television broadcast, regarding the wear and tear of his teammates in their respective leagues. "We made the goal early and then we controlled the game.
Messi, in the most lackluster performance so far in the tournament, was not the axis of the game nor did he unbalance again in the one on one, while Agüero and Gómez played as if to continue sitting on the bench. Di María, by deployment, finished as the highest point of the team.
But Paraguay, which never beat Argentina in 26 Copa América matches, inexplicably did not take advantage of the invitation. He sought to unbalance with the speed of Miguel Almirón, but did not generate a single dangerous play against goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
The Albiceleste will have rest the next day and will play again next Monday against Bolivia. La Albirroja, meanwhile, will face Chile on Thursday.
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