Argentina fulfilled the script on Tuesday, scoring 6-0 against Puerto Rico in a friendly match between two teams with very different realities.
Lionel Messi, a starter, dished out two assists but did not score any of the Albiceleste’s six goals.
Argentina imposes its power from the start
Puerto Rico’s resistance barely lasted a quarter of an hour, which is how long it took Alexis Mac Allister to open the scoring after he headed in Nico Gonzalez’s shot inside the six-yard box.
Argentina, the world champions, always on the back foot, closed in on their opponents and the chances did not cease.
Messi’s lofted pass from the edge of the area that found Gonzalo Montiel led to the second goal.
Meanwhile, Mac Allister beat the goalkeeper after a good pass from José López inside the area to find the third.
Martinez avoids the scare and Lautaro sentences
Puerto Rico came close to pulling off an upset when the match was still 0-0.
But Emiliano Martínez was attentive to Leandro Antonetti’s shot from 70 meters, which had caught him a little too early.
The second half saw both coaches move their benches and the gap widen on the scoreboard.
This was thanks to own goals by Steven Echevarria and Lautaro Martinez, who had entered the field in the 63rd minute.
Messi, without scoring, was the main protagonist
Messi, who played the entire match after not being called up for last week’s friendly against Venezuela, also in Miami, retired goalless.
A lack of accuracy and the crossbar prevented him from scoring on a night when he was the center of attention.
His jersey and chants of ‘Messi, Messi’ were a constant in the stands of Chase Stadium, where the Argentina star’s Inter Miami plays its home games.
And despite the difference in level between the two teams, the festive atmosphere never diminished in the stands, filled mainly with Argentina fans who tirelessly cheered on Lionel Scaloni’s team.
The Albiceleste gets into rhythm
In addition to the heavy result, the match was an opportunity for the Albiceleste to make contact with the country that will host the World Cup final on July 19.
Argentina will defend the title it won in Qatar in this tournament, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Technical data
0. Puerto Rico: Cutler De Jesus, Sidney Paris (Diego Rios, m.74), Nicolas Cardona (Rodolfo Suria, m.82), Giovanni Calderon, Steven Echevarria, Isaac Angking (Juan O’ Neill, m.62), Roberto Ydrach, Jeremy De Leon (Noeh Hernandez, m.62), Wilfredo Rivera (Diego Rossi, m.82), Leandro Antonetti, Rucardi Rivera (Gerald Diaz, m.73).
Coach: Charlie Trout.
6. Argentina: Emiliano Martínez (Facundo Cambeses, m.76), Gonzalo Montiel (Nahuel Molina, m.63), Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolás Otamendi (Lautaro Rivero, m.46), Nico González, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Giovani Lo Celso (Anibal Moreno, m.46), Giuliano Simeone (Nico Paz, m.58), Lionel Messi and José López (Lautaro Martínez, m.63).
Coach: Lionel Scaloni.
Goals: 1-0, minute 14: Alexis Mac Allister. 2-0, minute 23: Gonzalo Montiel. 3-0, 36th minute: Alexis Mac Allister. 4-0, 64th minute: Steven Evchevarria, own goal. 5-0, 79th minute: Lautaro Martínez. 6-0, 84th minute: Lautaro Martínez.
Referee: Armando Villarreal, of the United States. No players were cautioned.
Incidents: Friendly match played at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (Florida).
With information from EFE
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