Lionel Messi scored a penalty but Argentina missed out on the chance to take over top spot of South American World Cup qualifying from rivals Brazil after a 1-1 draw with Chile on Thursday.
Messi also clipped the woodwork and forced three impressive saves out of Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo but Alexis Sanchez earned the dogged visitors a point in Santiago del Estero.
“I was missing a goal against Argentina, I’d never scored one before so I’m very happy,” Sanchez said after the game.
The draw leaves Argentina a point behind Brazil, the only remaining side with a perfect qualifying record, who host Ecuador on Friday (Saturday 6 am IST).
Chile are down in sixth, still two points off the qualification places having won only one of their five matches so far.
Argentina captain Messi said he was happy with the result, despite failing to win.
“The team had a good dynamic, it wasn’t easy playing again after so much time,” he said.
It was more than six months since the last round of qualifiers after two matchdays were postponed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It was a special match given it was the first without Diego” Maradona, the legendary 1986 World Cup winning captain who died in November.
In other matches, without the suspended Edinson Cavani, Uruguay labored to a 0-0 draw with Paraguay that kept the two sides locked on seven points and battling for the final automatic qualification spot. While Colombia reignited their push for Qatar 2022 with a 3-0 victory over Peru, who had Miguel Trauco sent off.