Lionel Messi fumes at soggy pitch as Argentina are held to a draw by Venezuela in FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Lionel Messi laid the blame on the pitch of the Estadio Monumental de Maturín for Argentina’s “ugly” 1-1 draw against Venezuela on Friday in their FIFA World Cup qualifier. The Argentina-Venezuela match was delayed from scheduled kickoff time due to heavy rain in Maturin but the match eventually began with a pitch that was full of puddles.

Despite the poor conditions, Mess’s Argentina took the lead through Nicolas Otamendi Salomon Rondon scored the equaliser for the home team in the second half.

“It was very difficult, it makes for very ugly matches,” Messi told TyC after the match. “We could not complete two passes in a row. In the second half we did it on the right a little more, but it is difficult to play like that. Very little is played.”

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The Inter Miami forward added that the rain and poor pitch conditions stopped Argentina from playing their planned game.

“We tied because the field didn’t help us do what we wanted, we had to do another game than the one prepared for,” Messi said. “But we were prepared because we fought, won the battles, played with the error of the rival. We couldn’t risk much by playing with passes to the back. In the first half we made a couple passes to the back and the water would stop it, and complicated it. We did the game we could with the water.”

Messi return for Argentina

Argentina are at the top of the standings in the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifying but Messi’s frustration is understandable.

This is the first time Messi has played for Argentina since the Copa America final victory over Colombia in July where he suffered an ankle injury. And he played a pivotal role on a soggy pitch, setting up Otamendi for the first goal in the 13th minute.

After going a goal down, Venezuela striker Rondon cranked up the pace but Argentina goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, replacing suspended Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez, made a few good saves in the first half to keep his team in the lead.

Rondon, however, found a goal in the 65th minute as he headed in a Yeferson Soteldo’s cross.

Scaloni slams soggy pitch

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni responded by bringing on Leandro Paredes and Lautaro Martinez five minutes from time, but the sluggish pitch did not allow Argentina to find another goal.

Scaloni said the pitch was not fit enough for a World Cup qualifying match.

“It [the pitch] did not meet the minimal conditions for a football game,” Scaloni said. “You couldn’t play.

“We did what we had to do, but the conditions of the playing field were not for a match against two teams of this kind of level.”

Venezuela have moved sixth in the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifying standings with 11 points.