FORT LAUDERDALE.- Argentina this Tuesday devastated Puerto Rico 6-0 in a friendly played on the outskirts of Miami (United States) in which Lionel Messi He didn’t see the goal, but he distributed two fantasy assists.
Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martínez they scored a double of goals each at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (Florida), the home of the Inter Miami of Messi.
Two more of Gonzalo Montiel and Steven Echevarriaat their own door, completed the lesson of the pupils of Lionel Scaloni.
Argentina, which is preparing to defend its throne in the 2026 World Cup, had already defeated on Friday Venezuela 1-0 in a first test in Miami.
Against a more modest rival, Scaloni took the opportunity to do different tests and give the first opportunity to four players: Jose Manuel Lopez, Aníbal Moreno, Lautaro Rivero and Facundo Cambeseswho replaced Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez in the second half.
“Many times reality ends up surpassing what one dreamed,” said López, the only starter in the group and Messi’s partner in attack, who only regretted not having scored.
“For those of us who live more from the goal, that thorn remains,” acknowledged the Palmeiras striker.
“It was important for them, they are not going to forget it anymore,” said Scaloni about the debutants. “Now they will have to continue performing in their clubs to be able to put their teammates and the coach in trouble.”
Messi, for his part, resumed the captain’s armband after missing the friendly against Venezuela and leading Inter Miami’s 4-0 win over Atlanta United in the MLS on Saturday, in which he scored two goals.
This Tuesday he also looked for the goal insistently, but his attempts were neutralized by the goalkeeper. Sebastian Cutler and the posts.
The play that scored the first goal, in the 14th minute, began with a shot by Messi against the crossbar.
The rebound was finished off acrobatically Nico Gonzalez towards where Mac Allister was, who scored with a header.
Doubles by Lautaro and Mac Allister
Puerto Rico had few approaches to the Argentine goal, but they were very dangerous.
“Dibu” Martínez, who intervened three times in the first half, got a huge scare in the 7th minute when Leandro Antonetti shot from his own half, causing the experienced goalkeeper to sprint towards his own goal to make a difficult clearance.
The world champions increased their lead with another piece of genius from Messi who, with Puerto Rico lined up in his area, volleyed the ball into Montiel’s net in the 23rd minute.
Before the break, Mac Allister scored his second goal by shooting Cutler after “Flaco” López enabled him in the area in the 36th minute.
In the second half, Argentina cornered Puerto Rico in front of their goal, where three more goals were scored, starting with that of the Puerto Rican Echevarría, who deflected a shot from Nico González into his nets in the 64th minute.
Lautaro Martínez, who replaced López in the 62nd minute, completed the half-dozen by first taking advantage of a rebounded ball in the area in the 78th minute and then a fabulous back-heel shot by Messi in the 83rd minute.
Argentina, pending finalizing the details for the Finalissima against Spain, will have another pair of friendlies in November, one of them against Angola in Luanda.
