ARGENTINA CRUISE PAST CHILE IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

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Argentina claimed a 3-0 home win over Chile on Thursday thanks to second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez and Paulo Dybala, to strengthen their grip on top of the South American World Cup qualifying.

The Copa América champions looked dominant and untroubled by the absence of talismans Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María, who received a tribute at the Monumental stadium after his international retirement.

Argentina opened the scoring three minutes after the break, when Liverpool midfielder Mac Allister sent the ball into the net first-time off a cross from Álvarez, who also got on the scoresheet with a long-range effort in the 84th minute.

Substitute Dybala found the net in stoppage time to seal the victory that left the World Cup winners with 18 points, five clear of second-placed Uruguay who host Paraguay on Friday.

Argentina will play at Colombia in a rematch of the Copa América final on Tuesday, while Chile hosts Bolivia, who beat Venezuela earlier on Thursday.

Game Information

Mâs Monumental

3:00 AM, September 6, 2024

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Over/Under: 2.5

Attendance: 52,160

Referees: Jesús Valenzuela

- Reuters 

LIVERPOOL'S KLOPP BLASTS REFEREE FOR DENYING LATE PENALTY

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 Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool were denied a clear penalty and questioned what VAR official Stuart Attwell had "for lunch" after Alexis Mac Allister was subjected to a 99th-minute chest-high challenge by Manchester City's Jérémy Doku in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Mac Allister's second-half penalty, following a foul by City keeper Éderson on Darwin Núñez, earned a point for Liverpool after John Stones had given the champions a first-half lead.

But Liverpool could have been given the chance to win the game deep into stoppage time had referee Michael Oliver been asked by VAR official Attwell to review Doku's challenge.

The incident was assessed by Attwell and assistant VAR Nick Hopton, but Oliver was not sent to the pitchside monitor to have the final decision.

"Why would the guy in the VAR room think that's not clear and obvious?" Klopp said. "What did he have for lunch?"

"It was 100 percent a penalty. They [officials] will find an explanation. It was 100 percent foul in all areas of the pitch and probably a yellow card.

"Somebody will tell me how it was not a penalty, or Howard [Webb, head of Professional Game Match Officials Ltd.] will call me tomorrow and say he is sorry. These are the two possible outcomes and both things will not change the result.

"All the people with iPads around me were, 'Wow, clear.' Maybe they can hide behind the phrase it is not clear and obvious.

"It is of course a penalty but we didn't get it and that is fine. The most important thing for me is that we can play football like that. I saw so many sensational performances today."