Argentina beat Peru as Uruguay hold Brazil

Lautaro Martínez's goal gave Argentina a 1-0 win over Peru on Wednesday morning (Bangladesh Time) in a South American World Cup qualifying match in Buenos Aires.

The victory nearly secures Lionel Messi's team a spot in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Messi crossed the ball in the penalty area in the 55th minute to give Martínez one of the few clear opportunities of the match, AP reports.

Argentina leads South American qualifying with 25 points from 12 matches. The loss left Peru in the 10th and last position in the round-robin competition with seven points.

Five-times World Cup winners Brazil laboured for long stretches of the game in Salvador and fell behind to a fine finish from Uruguay's Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde in the 55th minute.

But seven minutes later Brazil equalised when a headed clearance fell kindly to Gerson who smashed home a perfectly-struck volley.

Gabriel Martinelli went close to a winner when he showed a deft touch to switch feet before a volley which brought a fine save out of Sergio Rochet.

The draw leaves Brazil in fifth on 18 points, a point behind fourth-placed Colombia who suffered an upset 1-0 home defeat to Ecuador in Barranquilla.