World Cup qualifiers: Messi helps Argentina to 3-0 win over Venezuela

Nico Gonzalez opened the scoring on Friday in the 35th minute at La Bombonera with a sliding first-time finish on Rodrigo de Paul's cross. Substitute Angel Di Maria made it 2-0 with a superb chipped effort from the edge of the box after spotting goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez off his line. Di Maria then turned provider with a lofted cross that Messi controlled with his chest before poking a shot past Farinez with his weaker right foot, reports Xinhua.

Lionel Messi scored his 81st international goal as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 home win over Venezuela in their World Cup qualifier here.

Nico Gonzalez opened the scoring on Friday in the 35th minute at La Bombonera with a sliding first-time finish on Rodrigo de Paul's cross.

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Substitute Angel Di Maria made it 2-0 with a superb chipped effort from the edge of the box after spotting goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez off his line.

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Di Maria then turned provider with a lofted cross that Messi controlled with his chest before poking a shot past Farinez with his weaker right foot, reports Xinhua.

The 34-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward has now scored 81 times in 159 appearances for his country.

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Argentina, who have already qualified for the World Cup in Qatar later this year, remain second in the 10-team South American zone standings with 38 points from 16 matches, four points behind leaders Brazil. Venezuela are last with 10 points.

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Argentina will meet Ecuador in Quito in the last round of South America's World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday while Venezuela will host Colombia.

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