Scaloni’s gamble pays off: Argentina edges Venezuela 1‑0 in Miami

Scaloni’s gamble pays off: Argentina edges Venezuela 1‑0 in Miami

When Enzo Fernández, midfielder of Chelsea Football Club stepped out onto the pitch in Miami on October 10, 2025, you could feel the tension in the humid air. The Argentina national side had a simple headline: beat Venezuela 1‑0 in an International FriendlyMiami, Florida. No Messi, no drama‑free night – just a test of a new attacking partnership and a reminder that every point matters before the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign kicks off.

Background and stakes

Coach Lionel Scaloni made a bold call: leave Lionel Messi on the bench. It wasn’t a snub; it was a calculated experiment. Scaloni told reporters the goal was to see how Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez click when they’re the only two forwards on the sheet. The match was part of the October 2025 FIFA international window, a perfect low‑pressure setting to tweak tactics.

Argentina’s last competitive outing had been a shaky 2‑2 draw against Brazil in July, and the media had been buzzing about a possible loss of rhythm. Venezuela, on the other hand, arrived hungry. They’d just secured a 3‑1 win over Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier, and their goalkeeper José Contreras was in stellar form.

Match timeline and key moments

The opening 15 minutes were all Argentina, pushing high and pressing hard. Goalkeeper Roberto Mendoza (Venezuela’s starter) was tested three times, but the home side’s defence held. At the 31st minute, the breakthrough came.

• Giovani Lo Celso, who had started at attacking midfield, threaded a low pass to Lautaro Martínez inside the box.
• Martínez feigned left, slipped right, and slotted the ball past Contreras.

That was the only goal. A few minutes later, Giovanni Lo Celso (yes, the same) tried to double the lead, but his effort clanged off the post. The replay showed he should have nudged a second‑time, but the ball stayed stubbornly out.

Venezuela pressed back. Contreras pulled off a diving save in the 58th minute that left the Argentine crowd collectively holding their breath. The match stretched into five minutes of added time, but the scoreboard stayed 1‑0.

Coach Scaloni’s selection experiment

Scaloni was visibly tense at the 31‑minute mark. The beIN SPORTS USA commentary captured his muttering, “Not happy… not happy.” Yet he stuck to his plan. By the 70th minute, he swapped José **—** the second‑half line‑up featured Julian Álvarez in a more advanced role, testing his chemistry with Martínez.

When the final whistle blew, Scaloni praised the defensive solidity but warned that the attacking link still needed work. “We have talent, but we must keep competing,” he said, a line that would be echoed by his midfield maestro.

Player reactions and analysis

Post‑match, Enzo Fernández was the vocal advocate for relentless ambition. “A narrow win is still a win, but we have to be better every day,” he told the press in Miami. His calm confidence reflected Chelsea’s recent emphasis on tactical discipline.

Veteran defender Nicolás Tagliafico added, “We felt the pressure, but the squad showed character. The test of the Martínez‑Álvarez duo will be clearer in the next game.”

Analyst and former Argentine international Juan Pablo Sorín remarked, “Scaloni is playing the long game. Messi’s rest is strategic, not punitive. If the youngsters can deliver consistency, the qualification pool will be a lot less stressful.”

Implications for World Cup qualifiers

While a friendly, the match still set the tone for the upcoming CONMEBOL qualifiers. A volatile South American group means every slip can cost points. Argentina now has a clear, if narrow, victory to build on, but the underlying message is urgent: defensive lapses must not recur.

Venezuela’s performance, especially Contreras’s heroics, signals they’re not pushovers. Their resilience could make them a dark horse in the inter‑continental playoff.

Looking ahead: Upcoming fixtures

Argentina’s next commitment arrives on October 14, 2025, when they face Uruguay at the same time slot. Scaloni is expected to keep Messi on the bench, using the Uruguay game as another laboratory for the front‑line pairing.

Venezuela, meanwhile, will travel to Colombia on the same day for a qualifier that could seal their playoff spot. Both teams will analyze the Miami data – possession percentages, shot conversion rates, and the effectiveness of high‑press tactics.

Historical context

Argentina and Venezuela have met 11 times in official competition, with Argentina winning eight, drawing two, and losing one. The last encounter was a 2‑0 friendly win for Argentina in Buenos Aires back in 2022. The narrow margin this time harks back to the 1998 Copa América group game, where Venezuela held Argentina to a 1‑1 draw, a result still celebrated in Caracas.

Moreover, the tribute to former coach Miguel Ángel Russo added an emotional layer. Russo, who steered Boca Juniors to a league title in 2005 and briefly managed the national side in 2019, passed away earlier this month. Players wore a black armband, and the stadium displayed a giant photo of his smiling face before kickoff.