Two-time world champions Argentina could only play a score draw as the South American qualifiers resume this week with matchday seven as far as the World Cup 2022 tournament in Qatar is concerned.

Argentinacaptain Lionel Messi gave his teamthe lead from the penalty spot at the midway point of the first half but him and his teammates could not preserve their lead for long after Inter Milan forward Alexis Sanchez dragged his team back into the game with nine minutes left to play in the first half as both Argentina and Chile settled for a share of the spoils at the halftime interval.

Messi and his teammates tried to mark the occasion of the tributes made to legend Diego Maradonawith a win by getting the winning goal in the second half but they could not achieve it as Chile fought hard to claim a point from the encounter atthe EstadioUnicoMadre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero. The Argentine players and officials honouredMaradona in the first game played by the team since his death last year and Messi dedicated his goal to him.

Maradona remains a cult hero in Argentina in death after leading the country to the World Cup title at the 1986 edition in Mexico. He was also the star player for his country as Argentina reached the 1990 World Cup final as defending champions before they were beaten by West Germany.

The draw against Chile means that Messi and Argentina have now drawn their last two World Cup 2022 qualifiers at home. The last match at home before the Chile clash ended in a 1-1 draw with Paraguay.

With the two points dropped at home to the Chileans, second-placed Argentina now trail Brazil by four points on the World Cup 2022 qualifying series table in the South American region.