A Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina rebounded from their World Cup flop to defeat world champions Spain 4-1 in a friendly in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
The Barcelona star opened the scoring after just nine minutes and further goals from Gonzalo Higuain three minutes later and Carlos Tevez after 34 minutes gave the South Americans a stunning 3-0 lead at half-time.
The second half was a quieter affair with Fernando Llorente pulling one back for the Spaniards after 83 minutes before Sergio Aguero produced the final margin in injury time.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The win was a huge boost for new coach Sergio Batista, who took over from the sacked Diego Maradona after Argentina crashed out of the World Cup losing 4-0 to Germany in the quarter-finals in South Africa.
Batista has been given until the end of the year to prove himself.
Spain, though, were without goalkeeper Iver Casillas and fielded only one of the back-four defenders who started against the Netherlands in the World Cup final.
That showed early on as Argentina’s fast-attacking forwards exposed Spain’s lack of cohesion at the back.
Messi struck the first blow with a superb goal nine minutes in after which he kissed his shirt in celebration, to the delight of the home fans who have doubted his commitment to the national team.
Three minutes later, it was the turn of Real Madrid striker Higuain to make it 2-0 running on to a long through ball from Manchester City’s Tevez.
Argentina’s third goal after 34 minutes was gifted by Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who slipped when kicking clear allowing Tevez to pounce and score.
Spain, in turn, were unlucky with striker David Villa twice hitting the post, after 28 and 41 minutes.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque rang the changes at half-time and that worked well as Spain began to control the midfield.
Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero saw another shot come back off the woodwork from substitute Santiago Cazorla after 75 minutes and he made a fine save from Pedro Hernandez three minutes later.
However, he was well beaten after 84 minutes when substitute Fernando Llorente spun and fired home from close range.
That counter sparked a late flurry of activity from the home side and a fourth goal from Aguero one minute into injury time, heading home a cross from Gabriel Heinze.
Argentina coach Batista said that the emphatic win proved that Argentina had put the crushing loss to Germany behind them.
“We were sent packing from South Africa, but we could just as well have won the World Cup,” he said. “If Spain this evening did not look like the side that won the World Cup, then the way Argentina played had a lot to do with that. We played the way we wanted to play.”
Del Bosque said that there was no shame for Spain in losing to Argentina.
“We lost with dignity and never gave up trying,” he said. “Argentina were very fast up front, they move well and it was normal that they controlled the game. They hardly left us any room to play in.”
The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League raised further questions about his future. Arsenal remain perfect in this season’s competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao. The clash between Madrid and City was the standout game of the round amid reports this week that Alonso had lost control of the locker room. Speculation over his position is likely to intensify after the latest
The Olympic flame for the Milan Cortina Winter Games landed in Rome on Thursday following a handover in Greece. The flame was carried in a small lantern aboard an ITA Airways flight between the Greek and Italian capitals. Tennis player Jasmine Paolini — an Olympic gold medalist — and local organizing committee president Giovanni Malago carried the flame off the plane. “I feel honored. It’s an incredible emotion,” Paolini said in brief remarks before the lantern was driven away toward the presidential palace. A 63-day torch relay covering 12,000km is to start in Rome today and wind its way through all 110 Italian provinces
The Kashima Antlers won a record-extending ninth Japanese title on the final day of the J. League season yesterday, holding their nerve to beat the Yokohama F. Marinos 2-1. Watched by Brazilian legend and former player Zico, the Antlers went into the game at their packed home stadium with a one-point lead over Kashiwa Reysol in the table. A goal in either half from Brazilian striker Leo Ceara put the Antlers in control, but Yokohama struck in the first of five minutes of second-half injury time to set up a nail-biting finale, with Reysol winning their game 1-0. The Antlers saw out the
Tony Jefferson intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass in overtime to give the Los Angeles Chargers a 22-19 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in an NFL thriller between playoff contenders. Justin Herbert, playing a week after surgery on his broken left (non-throwing) hand, withstood a career-high seven sacks to throw for 139 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers. Cameron Dicker kicked five field goals, including the 54-yard game winner in overtime. The Chargers defenders forced Hurts to throw four interceptions and surrender a fumble for a career-worst five turnovers as the Eagles fell to 8-5 with a third
RSS