EN
— Classic Messi strikes again! Ang world champs Argentina pinakita ang kanilang bagsik matapos kalampagin ang Bolivia, 6-0, sa CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying kahapon (Wednesday sa Manila). Ang 37-year-old na si Lionel Messi, parang di tumatanda, as he netted a stunning hat trick, along with two assists at trademark galawan sa buong laro.
Yung first goal, talagang quick response sa 19th minute nang si Lautaro Martinez ay nakapagnakaw ng bola mula kay Bolivian defender Marcelo Suarez, at mabilis na sinend kay Messi, who cooly slotted it into the bottom corner. Monumental stadium erupted in cheers!
Hindi pa tapos si Messi doon. Bago mag-half time, sa 43rd minute, isang napakagandang pass mula kay Julian Alvarez ang nagbigay ng pagkakataon kay Messi to unselfishly set up Martinez para sa second goal ng Argentina.
At just three minutes later, si Alvarez naman ang umiskor! Sa isang mabilis na free-kick play, Messi lobbed the ball to Alvarez, na kalmadong fininish ang bola. Pagdating ng second half, medyo nag-relax ang Argentina but still, they didn’t miss a beat. Kahit na may header si Otamendi na na-offside, they came back stronger with Almada scoring the fourth goal mula sa pull-back ni Molina.
Pero hindi matatapos ang gabi nang walang isa pang Messi moment. Isang "Messi classic" sa 84th minute—dribbling through the middle, shifting to his right foot, at dineposito ang bola sa bottom corner. Grabe!
Pagkatapos lang ng dalawang minuto, fans were in tears as Messi scored again, isang quick one-two with Nico Paz bago sinend ang bola na hindi kayang abutin ni keeper Guillermo Viscarra.
Argentina, leading with 22 points, ay umangat lalo sa table, ahead by three points against second placer Colombia, na nanalo rin against Chile, 4-0.
Colombians blank Chile:
Suot ang special retro white kit in celebration of their football federation's centenary, Colombia took apart Chile na talagang hirap sa buong laro. Jhon Lucumi's header from a James Rodriguez corner led to the first goal by Davinson Sanchez.
Colombia talagang pinahirapan ang Chile, especially after another giveaway led to Luis Diaz’s conversion sa second goal. They didn’t stop there—Jhon Duran scored, and Sinisterra sealed the deal in injury time.
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