Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates qualifying to the World Cup after winning a match between Ecuador and Argentina as part of FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifiers at Olimpico Atahualpa Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Quito, Ecuador. Getty ImagesA magical Lionel Messi hat-trick carried Argentina to a 3-1 win over Ecuador on Tuesday and booked their place at next year's World Cup finals in Russia.
With Argentina facing the dire possibility of missing out on a World Cup for the first time since 1970, their brilliant captain delivered when it matter most with three goals in the rarefied air of Quito.
The twice World Cup winners finished third in the 10-team South American group, going through with Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia as the automatic qualifiers, while Peru grabbed a playoff place against Oceania champions New Zealand at the expense of Chile.
"Today Argentina took a great step forward," said coach Jorge Sampaoli. “I hope that with the time to prepare that we’ll have, we can be competitive (in Russia) like we were today.”
While Sampaoli was delighted with his captain's performance, he said the side had to stop relying on him so much.
"We've got to fix it so not everything depends on Messi," he added.
Messi had not been at his best in Argentina’s stuttering campaign and failed to score in their previous three drawn qualifiers, which had left them in sixth place and out of the qualifying berths for Russia heading into Tuesday's game.
A World Cup without Argentina seemed an even bigger possibility when Romario Ibarra put Ecuador ahead in the opening minute after he got the better of Javier Mascherano and beat Sergio Romero with a low shot.
But Argentina, who had managed only one previous win in Quito, in 2001, equalized 11 minutes later when Messi tapped home after a one-two with Angel Di Maria.
Messi then put Argentina ahead in the 20th minute, firing a superb shot past Maximo Banguera into the top corner, and completed his hat-trick just past the hour, shaking off three tired Ecuador defenders before lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and into the net.
Messi, enjoying a little bit of extra space seldom afforded against rival South American defenses, joined Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, his team mate at Barcelona, as the all-time joint top scorers in CONMEBOL qualifiers with 21 goals.
Uruguay also went behind, to an own goal from Gaston Silva after 24 minutes, but they bounced back with two goals either side of half-time to secure second place in the 10-team South American group behind five-time World Cup winners Brazil.
Martin Caceres, Edinson Cavani and two from Luis Suarez gave the home side a commanding lead before Diego Godin's own goal made it 4-2. A second-half goal from Paolo Guerrero gave Peru the chance of a first World Cup appearance since 1982 when his brilliant free kick in Lima canceled out the opener from James Rodriguez.
Peru advanced to a playoff against Oceania champions New Zealand. Five-time champions Brazil had already qualified before their 3-0 win in Sao Paulo against Chile, who failed to qualify. Three second-half goals, one from Paulinho and two from Gabriel Jesus, saw the group leaders extend their unbeaten run in the qualifiers to 17 games. Paraguay also missed out when they lost 1-0 at home to bottom side Venezuela.
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