Argentina 0-0 Peru: 5 Talking Points, 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying

#4 Unbreakable Miguels

*****

Miguel Araujo and Miguel Trauco were nigh on impenetrable in defence for Peru tonight, and to look at them, you would have considered them seasoned, typically canny, South-American defenders. Instead, the duo have just 23 caps for the national team between them, with this being only the 5th cap Araujo has picked up.

The 22-year-old Araujo was drafted in to replace the suspended Christian Ramos, and ought to keep his place for the final game. He was always at hand to stop Messi from bursting through into the box if his defence failed him. A number of times Araujo slid in to block Messi from unleashing a long-range effort, and perhaps this performance ought to ensure that a big club takes a chance on this talented youngster.

Alongside him, Miguel Trauco was unbeatable in the fullback position, and prevented two certain goals - once to deny Rigoni's shot from hitting the back of the net, and before that, the most imperceptible of touches to poke Messi's shot onto the post just as the second half resumed. Trauco could have even grabbed an assist had Jefferson Farfan brought his shooting boots tonight, but overall the defender was probably Peru's best player tonight.