A magical Lionel Messi relished his new role as the Argentina captain as he set up two fine goals to help beat Nigeria 3-1 in a friendly encounter in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Tuesday.
The Barcelona superstar, who has often failed to find top form for his country, set the pitch alight with his magnificent left foot, weaving through Nigeria’s defense at will to deafening cheers at a three-quarter-full stadium.
Exorbitant ticket prices — a minimum US$100 apiece — meant the 24,000 seats available did not fill up, while thousands of people stayed outside the ground just to have a glimpse at Messi and co.
Photo: EPA
It was new Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella’s second victory in as many matches. His team beat Venezuela 1-0 in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata on Friday in front of 120,000 as part of an Asian tour to drum up new support.
Sabella, who replaced Sergio Batista after Argentina’s disappointing performance at the Copa America on home soil in July, said Messi was the difference on the night.
The trickster set up the first goal with a deft chip that sent Gonzalo Higuain clear in the 25th minute. Angel di Maria tapped home the second two minutes later after Messi again ran through the gaping Nigerian defense before his shot was parried by the goalkeeper, the ball falling invitingly for di Maria.
Nigeria were better in the second half, reducing the margin through an Obasi Chinedu goal on 46 minutes, but the Africans lost their way after conceding an own-goal following a Higuain attempt on a move generated by Messi once more.
Messi came close to scoring twice himself in the first half, sending the crowd to their feet as he dribbled past four Nigerian defenders before his left-footed shot to the far post was saved by the overstretched hands of Dele Aiyenugba.
He again came close to scoring, but his shot on the stroke of halftime was saved by the busy Nigerian ’keeper.
Argentina have a loyal following in South Asia thanks to Diego Maradona’s heroics in the 1986 World Cup, but many Bangladeshi fans reacted with fury against the organizers, who paid the two sides US$4 million to host the match — the country’s biggest ever soccer tie.
BELGIUM 1, US 0
AP, BRUSSELS
Belgium beat a youthful US team 1-0 in an international friendly on Tuesday in new coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s first away match.
Nicholas Lombaerts’ half-volley in the 55th minute settled a match which the Belgians dominated throughout, while the US rarely threatened.
Klinsmann was looking for his first win in the friendly, following a draw at home against Mexico and a loss to Costa Rica.
He has limited time left to assemble the players who will play in the World Cup qualifiers, which start in June next year.
POLAND 2, GERMANY 2
AP, GDANSK, POLAND
Cacau’s injury time equalizer in a 2-2 draw for Germany denied 10-man Poland its first ever win over its neighbor in a friendly between the sides on Tuesday.
Cacau scored with the game’s last kick in the fourth minute of injury time, three minutes after Poland’s captain, Jakub Blaszczykowski, gave his side the lead from a penalty conceded by goalkeeper Tim Wiese.
Robert Lewandowski fired Poland into the lead in the 55th, when the referee played advantage after Wiese brought down Dariusz Dudka in the area.
Toni Kroos equalized with a penalty in the 68th, when Arkadiusz Glowacki was booked for bringing down substitute Thomas Mueller.
Glowacki was sent off in the 81st for his yellow card after a cynical foul on Mario Goetze.
In other friendlies, it was:
‧ Czech Republic 4, Ukraine 0
‧ Venezuela 2, Guinea 1
‧ Colombia 2, Jamaica 0
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