Argentina have beaten Venezuela 2-0 in their World Cup 2010 qualifying match at the Stadio Jose Pachecho Romero in Maracaibo, Venezuela, with first-half goals from Barcelona’s Gabriel Milito and Lionel Messi enough to seal the win against a hard working Venezuelan side.

The hosts started the game full of confidence, controlling the midfield and were the first to carve a goal-scoring opportunity when Giancarlo Maldonado was sent free with a lovely pass from Ricardo Paez (son of head coach Richard Paez), but his shot went well high of the target.

Just minutes later Juan Roman Riquelme, scorer of Argentina’s two goals last weekend, turned provider, setting up Argentina’s opening goal in the 15th minute.

Riquelme’s looping free-kick totally outfoxed the home defence, with Gabriel Milito finding space at the far post for a free header to give the visitors the lead against the run-of-play.

Venezuela didn’t let the goal affect their play, with Jose Manuel Rey - earning his 89th cap for his country – and Jorge Rojas causing problems for Argentina with their pinpoint passing, but neither Arango or Maldonado could capitalise on their chances.

Alejandro Cichero received a yellow-card just before half-time, meaning that he will miss next months qualifier away to Colombia.

Just as the half came to a close, Argentina doubled their lead, with Barcelona winger Lionel Messi silencing the home crowd with a superb shot from the edge of the penalty area, which flew past the diving Venezuelan keeper Renny Vega.

The half finished 2-0 to Argentina, but with Venezuela having shaded the majority of possession and no doubt feeling hard done by to be losing by the two goal margin against a lacklustre Argentina side.

Venezuela continued to press in the second half, and despite their incisive passing and control of the tempo, they failed to threaten the visitors in the final third of the pitch, shooting high and wide of Abbondanzieri’s goal, with the Argentinean keeper hardly tested to this point.

Argentina thought they had a third goal when Riquelme had a long-range shot go past Vega with 20 minutes to go, but his blushes were saved by the linesman flagging Lionel Messi offside.

Nicolas Burdisso was stretchered off the pitch after a head collision with Juan Arango, which left the Inter Milan defender out cold on the ground for some time and he left the pitch with a neck brace on.

He was replaced by Getafe defender Daniel Diaz for the last 20 minutes of the match.

Venezuela were beginning to tire as the game came into the last ten minutes, giving Argentina the opportunity to play the game out.

As the hosts pushed forward Argentina had chances of their own, with Esteban Cambiasso’s shot deflecting off the post and Tevez and Messi proving dangerous.

The game finished 2-0 to Argentina, who currently top the CONMEBOL qualifying table.

Venezuela, who played well throughout the match, except with their shooting, deserved something from the match and will be disappointed with the result.

VENEZUELA V ARGENTINA TEAM SHEETS - CLICK TO VIEW

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | google | yahoo | technorati