📸 One moment of magic enough for 10-man Argentina to unlock Uruguay | OneFootball

One man proved the difference maker as Argentina edged past Uruguay 1-0 during Friday's World Cup Qualifier. And his name was not Lionel Messi.

Scorer: Almada 68'

Two South American giants going head-to-head meant it would always be a passionate affair at the Centenario. Yet the tense atmosphere on the pitch led to limited football actually being played.

There were only six shots combined during the opening five minutes of this clash with more fouls registered on the scoresheet (nine). Tempers flared, unsurprisingly, and despite the talent available, things remained goalless well into the second half.

Then just one moment of magic proved the difference in the end, something normally falling on the shoulders of one eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi.

However, with the Inter Miami star unavailable due to injury, Argentina relied upon Julian Alvarez and Thiago Almada to deliver the winning moment.

The Atletico de Madrid starlet danced around Uruguay's defence on the left wing and gifted the ball to his countryman outside the box.

The Lyon attacking midfielder then took one touch and picked out the top right corner, leaving goalkeeper Sergio Rochet no chance.

The moment went down as Almada's third goal in seven matches for Argentina and his second in the qualifiers.

Things ended poorly for Argentina, however, when substitute Nicolás González was shown a direct red card for kicking Nahitan Nández in the face in the dying minutes.

Looking at the table, Argentina sit top of the CONMEBOL qualifiers with a six-point lead while Uruguay are eight points back in fourth.

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