Argentina have taken a 2-0 lead into half-time against Venezuela in their CONMEBOL South American qualifying match for the World Cup Finals 2010, South Africa, at the Stadio Jose Pachecho Romero in Maracaibo, Venezuela with goals from Barcelona's Gabriel Milito and Lionel Messi.

Venezuela started the game full of confidence and were the first to carve a goalscoring 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, made the hosts pay for their lack of finishing, 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 Juan 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 relatively tame Argentina side.

VENEZUELA V ARGENTINA TEAM SHEETS - CLICK TO VIEW

VENEZUELA 0-2 ARGENTINA FULL TIME REPORT - CLICK TO VIEW

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