Messi hat-trick sends Argentina to Russia
Argentina booked their place in 2018 World Cup after a 3-1 victory over hosts Ecuador thanks to a hat-trick by their hero Lionel Messi.
Ecuador took a very early lead when Romario Ibarra poked the ball past Sergio Romero within one minute.
However after that, Messi produced a stunning individual display to drag Argentina from the brink of humiliation to the World Cup finals in Russia. He first leveled the match at 1-1 in the 11th minute after a neat one-two with Angel Di Maria.
Only three minutes later, the Barcelona forward put the visitors ahead with a left-footed effort from the edge of the box. He then completed his 44th career hat-trick in the 62nd minute, to put the Albiceleste on course for the World Cup, in a match where many had described as mission impossible.
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