Lionel Messi Scores Hat-trick, Argentina Beats Bolivia 3-0

Lionel Messi scores a hat-trick against Bolivia (Twitter @argentina)

JAKARTA - Argentina successfully beat Bolivia 3-0 thanks to Lionel Messi's hat-trick in the CONMEBOL 2022 World Cup Qualifiers at El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina on Friday morning.

Launching Antara, the home team scored the opening goal in the 14th minute. Starting from Leandro Paredes' pass, Lionel received the ball and then Messi poked a Bolivian player before releasing a long-range shot that ripped the left corner of goalkeeper Carlos Lampe's goal. The score became 1-0.

Argentina almost doubled their lead in the 27th minute. An Angel Di Maria cross from the right was met by Lautaro Martinez and his flick managed to break into the Bolivian goal.

#Eliminatorias Todo el pueblo está con vos ¡Gracias por ser argentino, gracias por hacernos tan felices! pic.twitter.com/nNSIGh8Vwx

— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) September 10, 2021

However, the referee disallowed the goal because Martinez was already in an offside position.

In the 39th minute, Martinez again spread threats to the Bolivian goal. Starting from Messi's horizontal cross from the left, the unmarked Martinez received the ball and fired a shot. However, the ball is still wide next to the goal.

Continuously pounded by Argentina, Bolivia had time to reply to Henry's 44th attack. Vaca got a wild ball and fired hard on the edge of the box, but still bounced over the goal.

In the second half, Argentina again dominated the game. Rodrigo De Paul had a chance in the 58th minute, but his shot from the edge of the box still missed the mark.

Argentina finally doubled their lead in the 65th minute with Messi's close-range shot after playing a one-two with Martinez to beat six Bolivian players. The score became 2-0 for the hosts.

La Pulga almost scored his third goal of this match in the 74th minute, but the goal was disallowed because Messi was already in an offside position.

Messi finally actually scored a hat-trick in the 89th minute. Paredes' long-range shot was parried by Lampe, but Messi caught the ball from the Bolivian goal. The score of 3-0 closed this match.

This result makes Argentina occupy second place in the CONMEBOL zone standings with 18 points from 8 matches, just below Brazil. While Bolivia ranks ninth with just 6 points from 9 matches.