Published on 22.11.2023
World Champions Argentina pulled another feat at the iconic Maracana stadium in Brazil when Lionel Messi led his side to a deserved 1-0 victory.
The sole goal was scored by the evergreen defender Nicholas Otamendi who rose highest in the 62nd minute to plant a bullet header into the back of Allison’s net from a Giovani Lo Celso corner.
The ill-tempered match started 30 minutes late after crowd trouble spilled into the pitch with Brazilian trio of
Gabriel Jesus, Raphinha and Carlos Augusto getting in the referee’s book in the opening 34 minutes for various fouls.
Gabriel Martinelli had the best chance of the game before Otemendi’s goal. From close range, the Arsenal star fired a volley towards the right side of the post but Emiliano Martinez pulled off a miraculous save to deny the hosts.
The Brazilian defenders had kept Messi quite in this game of few chances. A flurry of substitutions by both teams saw Newcastle star Joelington join the fray in place of Gabriel as Brazil pushed for a leveler.
The substitute lasted only ten minutes before referee Carlos Menza showed him a red card for a dangerous tackle in the 82nd minute.
This is only the third time Brazil has lost at the iconic stadium. The other losses came in 1950 World Cup final against Uruguay and in 2021 Copa America final against Argentina.
