Lionel Messi’ Returns As Venezuela Holds Argentina To Hard-fought Draw

Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw against Venezuela on Thursday in Lionel Messi’s return to international duty in South America’s World Cup qualifiers.

Captain Messi, now fully recovered from the injury he sustained in the Copa America final against Colombia in July, demonstrated his brilliance by assisting Otamendi to score just 13 minutes into the match.

The game, delayed by half an hour due to heavy rain, took place on a drenched pitch.

Argentina goalkeeper, Geronimo Rulli, filling in for Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez, who is serving a two-match ban for offensive behavior, produced a fine performance to keep out Salomon Rondon’s first-half efforts.

However, the determined Venezuelan striker leveled the score in the second half with a stunning header from Yeferson Soteldo’s cross, temporarily lifting his team to sixth place in the standings with 11 points.

Argentina sought a winner after boss Lionel Scaloni introduced Leandro Paredes and Lautaro Martinez five minutes from time, but the soggy pitch only increased the World Cup winners’ shortcomings.

“It was an ugly match. We couldn’t even make two passes in a row, the ball stopped because of the water on the pitch. It is difficult to play in these conditions, the pitch did not help,” Messi told TyC Sports after the game.

“The best conditions for us to play is that there is a good pitch, good weather, that the ball runs. We don’t ask for much, do we?” added defender Rodrigo De Paul.

Argentina continues to lead the standings with 19 points and will face Bolivia on Tuesday, while Venezuela will travel to Paraguay.