Messi strike helps Argentina to 2-0 win

MARACAIBO, Venezuela: Lionel Messi added another superb goal to his collection to help Argentina beat Venezuela 2-0 away in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Messi struck two minutes before halftime after his Barcelona teammate Gabriel Milito had given Argentina the lead with his first goal for his country on his 30th appearance.

The win gave Argentina, who has won all 15 meetings with Venezuela, maximum points from its first two games in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

Venezuela, the only South American team never to have played at the World Cup, has three points from two games after winning in Ecuador on Saturday.

Venezuela striker Giancarlo Maldonado wasted an early chance for the host when he fired over the crossbar after Juan Arango's incisive pass split the Argentina defense.

Argentina went ahead three minutes later when defender Milito rose to head home Juan Roman Riquelme's free kick.

Riquelme had scored both goals from direct free kicks in Argentina's 2-0 win over Chile on Saturday.

Venezuela enjoyed plenty of possession but could not find the final pass and fell further behind two minutes before halftime.

Carlos Tevez broke down the right and pulled the ball back to the edge of the area where Messi breezed by one defender with his first touch, then unleashed an unstoppable shot past Renny Vega.

Venezuela enjoyed a flourish after the break as Juan Arango broke clear but shot straight at Roberto Abbondanzieri and Maldonado headed over from a corner.

Messi had the ball in the net again in the 65th minute but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Agencies

(China Daily 10/18/2007 page24)