Messi stars in Argentina win

Leo Messi played a key part in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Uruguay in the eighth game of the qualifying stages for the 2014 World Cup, scoring the first and third goals and starting the move that led to Kun Aguero’s second.

The Argentinean captain came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half with a shot that shaved the bar, but the teams went in level at the break.

Two goals and an assist

In the second half, just past the hour mark, Messi stamped his class on the game and rounded off a sweet move with Di Maria, whilst the same two players again combined soon after to set up Kun Aguero for the second. The icing on the cake came with the third – a brilliantly struck free kick that the Uruguayan keeper Muslera was helpless to stop.

The win leaves Argentina, whose next game is on Tuesday against Alexis’ Chile in Santiago, out front in the qualifying group with 17 points from eight games, one ahead of Colombia and Ecuador.