Lionel
Messi saw a potential winning goal disallowed by VAR as Argentina were held to
a draw at Buenos Aires’ La Bombanera stadium in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier
against Paraguay.

Argentina’s
perfect start to the qualifying campaign for the 2022 Qatar World Cup came to a
halt as midfielder Nicolas Gonzales drew the hosts level just before the halftime interval after Angel Romero gave Paraguay an early lead from the spot.

Lionel
Scaloni’s men ground out narrow wins against Ecuador at home and away to
Bolivia last month.

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Messi side-footed home from a Giovani Lo Celso cutback in the 58th
minute to give Argentina the lead although the goal was scratched off by officials after Gonzales was
adjudged to have committed a foul earlier in the move.

At least
Argentina recovered from falling behind midway through the first half, when
Romero — who plays in Argentina for San Lorenzo — converted a penalty awarded
for a foul by Lucas Martinez Quarta on Newcastle United’s Miguel Almiron.

The home
side lost midfielder Exequiel Palacios to injury soon after, but his
replacement Lo Celso delivered the corner for VfB Stuttgart forward Gonzalez to
head in the equaliser four minutes before half-time.

After his
disallowed goal, a frustrated Messi also had a free-kick tipped onto the
crossbar by Paraguay goalkeeper Anthony Silva.

Paraguay
remain unbeaten having previously drawn with Peru and won in Venezuela.

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The sides
are in action again on Tuesday, when Argentina play Peru in Lima and Paraguay
host Bolivia.

Thursday’s
other game in South American qualifying saw Ecuador claim a second win in three
outings in the round-robin tournament as Carlos Gruezo’s late penalty gave them
a 3-2 victory over Bolivia in La Paz.

The action
continues on Friday with Brazil notably hosting Venezuela in Sao Paulo as they
chase a third straight win in qualifying.

They will
be without Neymar, who has not recovered from an adductor injury suffered
playing for Paris Saint-Germain recently.