Lionel Messi converted a penalty to rescue 1-1 draw for Argentina against Paraguay in the Copa America on Wednesday.
The two-time world champions once again struggled to find rythm but Messi’s strike will be vital as it gifted them breath to be still alive in the competition.
The Barcelona super star fired a 57th-minute spot-kick at Belo Horizonte’s Mineirao Stadium to cancel out a first-half strike from Paraguay’s Richard Sanchez.
Argentina goalkeeper Franco Armani later saved a second half penalty to prevent Paraguay going 2-1ahead in the Group B battle.
The result left Argentina with one point from two games and on the bottom of the table along with Asian champions Qatar with one game remaining between them. Qatar lost to Columbia in the other match of the group on Wednesday.
However with the two best third placed teams advancing to the quarter-finals, both the teams can still reach the last eight with a decisive win in their final groupt game.