Andreas Ambarchian
Having now crossed the halfway point in the South American World Cup qualifying campaign, things are starting to take shape, following two rounds of games this month. Although nothing is yet definite, some teams seem to be moving inexorably towards progression, while others are running out of fixtures if they are to pick up enough points to make it to Brazil in 2014.
Going into this month’s qualifiers, Argentina led the CONMEBOL table and remain on top after taking six points from their two games.
La Albiceleste were helped in no small part by the inimitable Lionel Messi. The Barcelona forward netted twice in the opening game against Uruguay, first putting his side ahead after ghosting in to finish an intricate team move, before cleverly sweeping a free-kick under a jumping Uruguay wall. Also on target in the 3-0 victory in Mendoza was Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, who marked his return to the national side following an absence through injury with the second goal of the game.
Messi, who is at last starting to consistently reproduce his fine club form on the international stage, found the net again in Argentina’s next fixture against Chile. The goal took his record for 2014 World Cup qualifying to seven and 31 in total for his country; Gonzalo Higuaín completed the scoring in a 2-0 victory for La Albiceleste.
Although defeat to neighbours Argentina will have dented national pride in Uruguay, the real cause for concern came in La Paz, where the side were thrashed 4-1 by Bolivia. La Celeste have now dropped outside the automatic qualifying spots to fifth, where they face the prospect of an intercontinental play-off against the winners of the fifth round in the Asian qualifying section. However, to achieve even this, they must arrest a worrying slump that has left Luis Suarez and co. with just one point from their last four qualifiers.
One place below Uruguay lie Chile, who saw their campaign stall this round. Before defeat to Argentina in Santiago, the west coast side travelled up north to Quito to face Ecuador, who are led in attack by the powerful figure of Felipe Caicedo. The ex-Manchester City striker, who now plays his club football in Russia for Lokomotiv Moscow, bagged a brace in a 3-1 victory for the hosts and was joined on the scoresheet by fellow former Premier League player, Segundo Castillo, who made sure of the win in the 90th minute. The two defeats mean that Chile fall to sixth, out of the qualifying places, however, Claudio Borghi’s men remain level on points with the two teams above them, Venezuela and Uruguay, and meet the latter in the next round.
Before beating Chile, Ecuador had previously taken a useful point from their trip to Venezuela, the only game of the round for La Vinotinto, and finished the month in second place, just three points behind leaders Argentina. However, Colombia, who, like Venezuela, played just once this month, a comfortable 2-0 victory at home to Paraguay, could move above Ecuador if they win their game in hand.
Following a promising round in September, Peru had a great opportunity this month to put themselves in a qualifying position with games against the bottom two sides, Bolivia and Paraguay.
Coach Sergio Markarian picked a squad assembled of altitude specialists from the domestic league to combat the thin air in La Paz, in the first game against Bolivia. The team of home-based players started well, and, unaffected by the conditions, took the lead through a fierce strike from Juan Marino. However, the visitors failed to capitalise on their early dominance, and, after squandering several good openings, conceded a thunderous equaliser from Bolivia’s Alejandro Chumacero, before playing out an insipid draw.
Worse was to come for Peru as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against bottom team Paraguay. La Blanquirroja now find themselves having been displaced by Bolivia and just one point above Paraguay.
A gap is beginning to emerge between the nations battling it out for qualification and those desperately trying to avoid the opprobrium of finishing last. However, the points difference is still breachable and, should any of the lower teams manage to go on a good run of wins, progression is not yet beyond them. This should ensure another competitive round of games when qualifying resumes in March.
