Argentina too hot for Chile

Riquelme inspires Argentina, while Uruguay thump Bolivia

By Peter O'Rourke   Last updated: 14th October 2007

Riquelme

Riquelme: Brace

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Argentina kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Chile in Buenos Aires.

Juan Roman Riquelme was the hero for the home with two superb trademark free kicks in the first half.

Riquelme, who has not played for Villarreal this season, showed no sign of rustiness as he inspired Argentina to all three points.

The classy playmaker broke the deadlock on 27 minutes when he curled his free kick from the edge of the box into the top corner.

Riquelme repeated the act right on the stroke of half-time to double Argentina's lead with another clinical free kick from 30 yards out.

Any hopes Chile had of getting back into the game went up in smoke on 54 minutes when defender Cristian Alvarez was sent off for crashing into Javier Mascherano.

Elsewhere at the start of South America's World Cup qualifying campaign Venezuela stunned Ecuador with a 1-0 win in Quito.

Venezuela defender Jose Manuel Rey scored a memorable goal to give the visitors all three points.

From close to the halfway line, Rey scored with a powerful, dipping shot which flew over startled Daniel Viteri and into the goal in the 67th minute.

The defeat was Ecuador's first at home in six years and is a major blow to their hopes of qualifying.

Uruguay got their campaign off to a flying start with a 5-0 demolition of Bolivia in Montevideo.

Goals from Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan, Sebastian Abreu and substitutes Vicente Sanchez and Carlos Bueno were enough to give Uruguay a convincing win.

To compound Bolivia's misery they had Ronald Garcia sent off.

In the final game in qualifying Peru were held to a goalless draw by Paraguay.

Juan Vargas came closest to scoring for Peru when he saw his shot come back off the post, but Paraguay held on to earn a point.