WATCH : World Cup Qualifier between Argentina-Brazil takes ugly turn due to fight between police and fans

Argentina won their nervy FIFA World Cup qualifying match 1-0 against 10-man Brazil. Earlier today, nasty events in the Maracana stands overshadowed the game.

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The featured game began 30 minutes after the scheduled start of play due to a brawl between Brazilian police and Albiceleste supporters. When the altercation broke out between the two groups of supporters and the police, Messi pulled his side from the pitch. When Argentina did ultimately return to the pitch, the match involving the two CONMEBOL foes was just as fierce. 42 fouls were committed during the heated match at Maracana.

In the 63rd minute, Nicolas Otamendi struck the game's lone goal with a powerful header from Giovani Lo Celso's cross. To put Lionel Scaloni's team ahead, the Benfica defender sprang to the highest point. Even though Lionel Messi played until the 78th minute, it seemed like he had a knock the entire time. Although he was largely a spectator throughout the match at Marcana, his team played outstanding defence.

When Joelinton was sent to the dressing room in the 81st minute. The tensions started reaching a breaking point. After striking Rodrigo De Paul around the face, the Newcastle United defensive midfielder received a red card for the incident. Brazil suffered their first-ever home loss during a FIFA World Cup qualifying match as Argentina defeated them in a historic victory. After losing their past three games and dropping to sixth place, Scaloni's world champions rose back to the top of the standings.

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Argentina’s World Cup winning coach set to leave?

After the match, Lionel Scaloni who guided the Albiceleste towards the FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar stated that it would be difficult to keep up the level his squad had demonstrated in the previous several years.

He said, “Now it's time to stop the ball and start thinking. These players have given me a lot, and I need to think a lot about what I am going to do with my future.”

According to journalist Gaston Edul, Scaloni's latest remarks were the result of a conflict between him and Chiqui Tapia, the president of the Argentina FA.

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