Messi Nets Heroic Hat Trick in Wild South American WC Qualifying Finales
Channel: AUDIO STORIES - Vlog
Date: 2017-10-11

Lionel Messi delivered a heroic hat trick to send Argentina to the World Cup, while Chile will miss out after falling at Brazil.

The stage was set for one of the more dramatic World Cup qualifying nights in recent memory, and it delivered.

Lionel Messi was heroic for Argentina, netting a hat trick to bring his nation back from a deficit in the first minute in Ecuador and send the Albiceleste to Russia after a harrowing qualifying campaign. 

Elsewhere, Chile, the two-time reigning Copa America champion, failed at Brazil, falling 3-0 and tumbling out of the qualification places. Colombia and Uruguay clinches the other two automatic World Cup berths up for grabs in South America, while Peru, riding the heroics of Paolo Guerrero, are still alive and will go to an intercontinental playoff against New Zealand for a final place in Russia. Venezuela did its part in helping Peru by stunning Paraguay, which could have worked its way into the top five with a win.


MESSI FINISHES OFF HIS HAT TRICK

Lionel Messi simply put Argentina on his back Tuesday night, coming up with a vital insurance goal in Quito to give Argentina a 3-1 lead. At that moment, Argentina was safe in fourth place in the table.