This seems like as good a time as any to make the first post on HEGS in a good while. On Tuesday night, Argentina played Paraguay in Asunción and, needing a draw to mathematically confirm their place in next year’s World Cup in Brazil, they scored five goals away from home in a World Cup qualifier for only the second time ever, running out 5-2 winners. Lionel Messi scored twice from the penalty spot, and the other goals came from Sergio Agüero, Ángel Di María and Maxi Rodríguez, with José Núñez and Roque Santa Cruz scoring Paraguay’s consolations. You can see all seven right here.
The win means Argentina become the first side to qualify from the CONMBEOL group, with Colombia needing just a point from their remaining two matches to join them in Brazil. Chile are next in line, whilst Ecuador and Uruguay are level on 22 points in the battle for the last automatic spot. Venezuela claimed a thrilling 3-2 win over Peru to keep themselves in with just the slimmest of chances of grabbing the playoff spot, but they have to win their one remaining match (at home to Paraguay) by a landslide, and hope that Uruguay or Ecuador lose both of theirs by convincing margins as well (Uruguay and Ecuador play each other in the next round of matches, so it’s impossible for Venezuela to finish above both of them).
Hasta El Gol Siempre 