side as their frustrating start to World Cup qualifying
continued.
Argentina remain winless in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup
after a 0-0 draw in a physical clash with Paraguay at the
Estadio Defensores del Chaco.
Gerardo Martino's side lost their opening fixture against Ecuador
2-0 on Thursday, and a goalless game in Asuncion leaves them
with just one point from a possible six.
In the absence of injured duo Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero,
the goal-scoring burden fell upon Carlos Tevez, but the striker
missed a golden opportunity to put the visitors ahead midway
through the first half.
Ezequiel Lavezzi was also unable to make the most of two
openings before half-time, and chances proved hard to come by
in the second half.
In their search for a goal, Argentina left themselves vulnerable to
counter-attacks, but Ramon Diaz’s men were unable to exploit
the gaps and steal all three points.
It was a result that was a far cry from Argentina’s 6-1 thrashing
of Paraguay in the semi-finals of Copa America 2015 and is
sure to increase the pressure on Martino.
After a scrappy start to proceedings, it was unsurprising that the
first chance of the match came as a result of a free-kick.
With 15 minutes on the clock, Sergio Romero had to dive low to
his left to parry Derlis Gonzalez's stinging strike from a 35-yard
set-piece.
Paraguay's momentum grew, but they were let off the hook
when Tevez passed up a glorious chance in the 21st minute.
After Antony Silva's drop-kick ricocheted off the Boca Juniors
striker, Angel di Maria dispossessed the scrambling Miguel
Samudio in the corner and curled in a cross that the unmarked
Tevez could only head over.
It was an unlikely source that eventually forced Silva into his
first save of the evening, with Javier Mascherano's 25-yard
effort held by the keeper six minutes later.
Dario Lezcano saw his venomous shot from the top of the box
blocked by Romero in the 39th minute, moments after Paraguay
had lost influential midfielder Nestor Ortigoza through injury.
Argentina subsequently became more of a threat, but Lavezzi
was thwarted by two terrific stops on separate occasions from
Silva ahead of the interval.
The visitors picked up where they left off after the restart, with
Di Maria fizzing an attempt narrowly off target with 53 minutes
on the clock.
However, Argentina were almost punished on the counter-attack
by Diaz's side on the hour-mark.
Lezcano's poor first touch off a square pass from Gonzalez
afforded Pablo Zabaleta enough time to slide in and get an
important block on the striker's shot.
In the quest for their first goal of the campaign, Martino
introduced Erik Lamela and Paulo Dybala.
The pair combined with three minutes of normal time remaining,
but the Juventus striker showed a lack of composure as he
blazed over from the right-hand side of the box.
The 2015 Copa America finalists must now wait until their
meeting with rivals Brazil in November to try and win their first
match in qualifying.
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