📝 Argentina qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup with win over Uruguay | OneFootball

The first of four South American places in this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland was claimed by Argentina.

Argentina beat Uruguay 2-1 on the penultimate date of the six-team final round and achieved their goal of sneaking into the U-20 World Cup this year.

In the first round, Argentina pulled out a pair of 1-0 wins in their final two matches to barely qualify for the final stage.

From the beginning of Thursday’s match, they were the superior side and went in front thanks to a phenomenal golazo by Aníbal Moreno (Newell’s Old Boys) in the 25th minute.

Just seconds after the half-time intermission, Gonzalo Maroni (Talleres, on loan from Boca Juniors) doubled Argentina’s lead after slamming the ball against the post on his first attempt.

In the 72nd minute, Facundo Medina (Talleres) was sent off to complicate things matters for the Albiceleste.

Uruguay attempted to mount a comeback but they could not penetrate the Argentina defence until Nicolás Schiappacase (Parma, on loan from Atletico Madrid) scored a consolation goal deep into stoppage time.

Argentina is now through to the U-20 World Cup, as nine points were enough to guarantee them a top-four finish with one match remaining.

An Argentina victory over Brazil on Sunday would not only eliminate the Seleção, it would also make the Albiceleste the U-20 South American Champions.

The Albiceleste have not advanced past U-20 World Cup group stage since 2011, despite winning the biennial tournament five out of seven times from 1995 to 2007.