The Argentine national team has qualified for the U-20 South American Championship second round with a game to spare.
Coached by Diego Placente, Argentina still has to face Ecuador in its final first-round matchup but is already guaranteed to advance after Brazil narrowly defeated the Ecuadorian side 3-2.
The Albiceleste is currently the group B leader with seven points, after routing Brazil 6-0 last Friday, earning a tight 1-0 win against Bolivia on Tuesday and managing a 1-1 tie withColombia in between.
With the tournament divided into five-team groups, each team was awarded an off day, and Argentina’s fell on Thursday. Thanks to Brazil’s victory, Ecuador can no longer overtake the Albiceleste in the group stage standings.
Argentina will now play Ecuador on Saturday with a chance to clinch the group’s top spot. Brazil could lend another helping hand when it faces Colombia, which has also tallied seven points. Placente’s team can finish first if it wins its final match and the Verdeamarelha defeats or draws against the Cafeteros.
In Group A, three teams secured their qualification on Wednesday. Uruguay, which leads with 9 points, beat Peru 2-0, while Paraguay, second with 6, won 1-0 against Venezuela. Chile, which also has six points, secured a spot in the next round as well.
The six teams — Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile — will now face each other in a second group stage. Because Chile will be hosting the under-20 World Cup, the top four teams will qualify, with La Rioja guaranteed a fifth spot. That tournament will be held from September 20 to October 16.
Argentina is set to play Ecuador on Saturday at 6 p.m. Argentina time, with Brazil matching up against Colombia simultaneously. The second phase of the South American Championship begins on February 4 and will continue until February 16.
