Salomón Rondón grabbed a second-half equaliser as Venezuela held Argentina to a 1-1 draw in South America's 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Thursday while 10-man Bolivia upset Colombia 1-0.
The return of Lionel Messi to the Albiceleste starting line-up looked to have put the world champions on the way to victory after the Inter Miami superstar's free-kick set up an opening goal for Nicolaá Otamendi after 13 minutes.
But a battling performance by Venezuela in front of their home fans in Maturín was rewarded midway through the second half when the 35-year-old Rondón met Yeferson Soteldo's cross with a header that flew past Argentina goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli.
Despite the dropped points, 2022 World Cup winners Argentina remain firmly on course for a place at the 2026 finals, which are being staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
With the tournament expanded to 48 teams, the top six finishers in South America's 10-team round-robin qualifying competition will earn a ticket to the finals.
Argentina lead the standings with 19 points from nine games, three points clear of second-placed Colombia, who suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Bolivia in other qualifying action on Thursday.
Venezuela 1 Argentina 1
Stadium – Monumental de Maturín (Maturín, Venezuela)
Referee – Gustavo Tejera (URU)
Goals – Venezuela: Salomón Rondón (65); Argentina: Nicolás Otamendi (13).
Yellow cards – Venezuela: José Martínez (32); Argentina: Germán Pezzela (90+4)
Teams
Venezuela: Rafael Romo - Alexander González, Yordan Osorio, Nahuel Ferraresi, Jon Aramburu - Tomás Rincón (Jhonder Cadiz, 58), José Martinez (Edson Castillo, 90+3), Yangel Herrera - Yeferson Soteldo, José Salomón Rondón, Jefferson Savarino (Darwin Machis, 59); Coach: Fernando Batista.
Argentina: Gerónimo Rulli - Nicolás Tagliafico, Germán Pezzela, Nicolás Otamendi, Nahuel Molina - Giovani Lo Celso (Leonardo Balerdi, 68), Enzo Fernández (Leandro Paredes, 85), Rodrigo De Paul - Julián Álvarez (Lautaro Martínez, 85), Thiago Almada (Gonzalo Montiel, 46), Lionel Messi. Coach: Lionel Scaloni.
– TIMES/AFP
Comments