Sports
Copa America 2021: Exciting Facts As Argentina Enter Quarterfinals
By Ekene Dike
Argentina edged out Paraguay 1-0 in the final game of Group A to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the Copa America 2021. An early goal by Alejandro Gomez was the difference at the Estàdio Nacional De Brazilia.
Lionel Messi and his teammates obtained victory in the most elusive of fashions to confirm the Albiceleste as Group A leaders and advance to the knockout stage of the competition hosted by Brazil.
In other news, Chile have also joined Argentina in the next round after playing out a 1-1 draw with Uruguay. These results ensure Argentina are the group winners in Group A with 7 points while Chile are in second on 5. They are then followed by Paraguay (3), Uruguay (1) and Bolivia (0).
Apart from the qualification by the Argentines, there were amazing facts from the triumphant result over Paraguay
• Argentina beat Paraguay for the first time in four competitive games (3 draws, 1 loss). The previous Albiceleste victory came in the semifinal of the CONMEBOL Copa América 2015 (6-1).
• Argentina stretch their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions (9 wins, 7 draws). They have not lost since a 0-2 defeat to Brazil in the Copa América 2019.
• Paraguay did not score in three of their last four games: 0-0 against Uruguay, 0-2 against Brazil and 0-1 against Argentina. They only found the net in the 3-1 win against Bolivia on the first round of the Copa América.
• Lionel Messi equalled Javier Mascherano’s record as the player with the most caps for Argentina (147). In addition, he has now played 100 competitive matches for the Albiceleste.
• For the first time in the last nine games against Argentina, Paraguay had more possession than their rival: they had 56.9% of possession.
• Argentina had eight shots on goal last night against Paraguay. This was the second lowest during the Lionel Scaloni era, tied with the match against Ecuador in October 2020 and one more than the game against Paraguay at the CONMEBOL Copa America 2019 (7).
DATA: OPTA
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