Chronicle EditorMONTEVIDEO.— Argentina and Chile’s World Cup soccer qualification hopes were left on a knife edge on Tuesday night after the South American heavyweights slipped up once again on the road to next year’s finals in Russia.
Argentina needed a second-half own goal to help them snatch a 1-1 draw against already-eliminated Venezuela in Buenos Aires while Chile crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Bolivia in La Paz. The results left 2014 World Cup finalists Argentina and reigning Copa America champions Chile outside of the automatic qualifying places and sets up a nail-biting final two rounds of matches next month.
Argentina are fifth in the standings with 24 points from 16 games while Chile are sixth with 23 points. The Argentinians — who would face a playoff against New Zealand if they remain fifth — host fourth-placed Peru next month in Buenos Aires before an awkward final game at altitude against Ecuador.
Chile meanwhile will face Ecuador in Santiago on October 5, before heading to Brazil for their final qualifier five days later. At the top of the table, Brazil have already qualified and assured themselves of first place. The Brazilians picked up another point on Tuesday with a 1-1 draw against third-placed Colombia in Barranquilla.
A spectacular volleyed goal from Willian gave the Brazilians the lead on the stroke of half-time before Colombia clawed back a share of the points with a battling second-half display capped by a headed equaliser from Radamel Falcao. In Buenos Aires, Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli admitted his team had blown a golden opportunity to force themselves into the automatic qualifying places following Chile’s defeat earlier in the day. Sampaoli blamed poor first-half finishing for his side’s failure to take all three points against the Venezuelans.
“We have two games left against Peru and Ecuador and we need to win both of them,” Sampaoli said. “We had three chances to score in the first half and everything could have been settled.”
“We must continue to fight in attack and give strength to the players.” Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi echoed Sampaoli’s sentiments after watching his side slide to a dispiriting loss in La Paz.
“We will fight, we will make the greatest effort possible, we believe that we have the ability to compete with the best and we will try to obtain the results that allow us to qualify,” said Pizzi. — AFP.
Online Reporter