Soccer-Argentina Hand Brazil Third Straight Loss After Crowd Trouble at Maracana

Argentina handed Brazil a third straight defeat in the South American championship with a 2-1 victory in a match marred by crowd trouble at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium on Tuesday.

The victory extended Argentina’s unbeaten run to 36 matches and kept them top of the table, while Brazil’s third consecutive loss left them struggling to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.

Argentina took the lead in the 23rd minute when Lionel Messi curled a free-kick past Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson. Brazil equalised in the 36th minute through a penalty from Neymar, but Argentina regained the lead in the 47th minute when Angel Di Maria volleyed home a cross from Messi.

The match was marred by crowd trouble in the second half, with fans throwing objects onto the pitch and clashing with security personnel. The game was briefly halted in the 70th minute when a flare thrown from the stands landed close to a group of players.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said after the game that he was \”very proud\” of his team’s performance. \”We knew it was going to be a difficult match,\” he said. \”Brazil are a great team, but we were able to control the game and create more chances.\”

Brazil manager Tite said that his team \”made too many mistakes\” and that they \”need to improve\” if they want to qualify for the World Cup.

\”We need to be more consistent,\” he said. \”We had a lot of chances but we didn’t take them. We need to be more focused and more determined in the next match.\”

Argentina will next face Colombia in Barranquilla on Friday, while Brazil will play Paraguay in Asuncion on the same day.

The South American championship is a qualifying tournament for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The top four teams in the table will qualify automatically for the tournament, while the fifth-placed team will play a playoff against a team from another confederation.

Argentina’s Unbeaten Run

Argentina’s victory over Brazil extended their unbeaten run to 36 matches. This is the longest unbeaten run in the history of Argentine football.

The run began in July 2019, when Argentina drew 2-2 with Chile in a Copa America group stage match. Since then, Argentina have won 28 matches and drawn eight.

Argentina’s unbeaten run is a testament to the team’s improved form under manager Lionel Scaloni. Scaloni took over as manager in 2018 after Argentina’s disappointing performance at the World Cup in Russia.

Under Scaloni, Argentina have become a more cohesive and disciplined team. They have also benefited from the return to form of Lionel Messi, who has been in excellent form for both club and country in recent years.

Brazil’s Struggle to Qualify

Brazil’s third consecutive loss in the South American championship leaves them in a precarious position in the qualifying race.

Brazil are currently fifth in the table, with 24 points from 12 matches. The top four teams in the table will qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the fifth-placed team will play a playoff against a team from another confederation.

Brazil’s recent form is a cause for concern for manager Tite. Brazil have lost their last three matches, including defeats to Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.

Tite has come under pressure from Brazilian fans and media to improve the team’s performance. He has insisted that he is confident that Brazil will qualify for the World Cup, but the team’s recent struggles have raised doubts about their ability to do so.

Crowd Trouble at the Maracana

The match between Argentina and Brazil was marred by crowd trouble at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Fans threw objects onto the pitch and clashed with security personnel. The game was briefly halted in the 70th minute when a flare thrown from the stands landed close to a group of players.

The crowd trouble is a reminder of the dangers of football hooliganism. It also highlights the importance of security measures at football matches.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has announced that it will investigate the crowd trouble and take disciplinary action against any individuals or clubs found to be responsible.

The CBF has also called for a greater emphasis on security at football matches in Brazil. The federation has stated that it will work with the authorities to ensure that all future matches are played in a safe and secure environment.

Conclusion

Argentina’s victory over Brazil in the South American championship was a significant result. The victory extended Argentina’s unbeaten run to 36 matches and kept them top of the table, while Brazil’s third consecutive loss left them struggling to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.

The match was marred by crowd trouble at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Fans threw objects onto the pitch and clashed with security personnel. The game was briefly halted in the 70th minute when a flare thrown from the stands landed close to a group of players.

The crowd trouble is a reminder of the dangers of football hooliganism. It also highlights the importance of security measures at football matches.

Argentina will next face Colombia in Barranquilla on Friday, while Brazil will play Paraguay in Asuncion on the same day.