In the friendly match between Argentina and Guatemala, the reigning world champions came from behind to win 4-1 thanks to the brilliant performance of captain Lionel Messi. With this result, Argentina is well prepared for the 2024 Copa America.Argentina vs Guatemala match lineup
Scored
Argentina: Messi (12′, 77′), Lautaro Martinez (penalty 39′, 66′)Guatemala : Lisandro Martinez (5′, own goal)
This is Argentina’s last friendly match before attending the 2024 Copa America, so coach Scaloni launched the strongest squad. However, Argentina did not catch up well and soon conceded.
In the 4th minute, the defending champions let Guatemala advance. They let striker Rubin score easily from a free kick on the left wing and although Emiliano Martinez blocked it, the ball accidentally hit Molina and bounced towards the goal. goal and Lisandro Martinez, in an attempt to clear the ball, put the ball into his own net. 1-0 for Guatemala.
However, Argentina equalized in the 12th minute after Guatemala goalkeeper Hagen passed the ball straight to Messi’s feet right in front of an empty goal. Faced with this unbelievable “gift”, Messi easily finished into the empty net.
But even with the equalizer, Argentina played quite stalemate for most of the first half but they suddenly accelerated towards the end of the half.
In the 38th minute, 19-year-old Inter Milan star Valentín Carboni was brought down in the Guatemala penalty area and Messi gave the penalty to Lautaro, who finished accurately to give Argentina a 2-1 lead.
In the second half, Argentina played quite leisurely. It was not until the 66th minute that they scored again, this time Enzo Fernandez chipped the ball into the penalty area very well and Messi passed it back to Lautaro Martinez in a more favorable position to score the second goal of the match.
The next time, Guatemala goalkeeper Hagen denied Argentina a series of opportunities, but in the 77th minute Messi scored twice after Di Maria’s delicate through ball.
Messi almost scored a hat-trick, but his curling shot in the 84th minute went wide of the post. However, a 4-1 victory was enough for the world champions. Argentina will have its first match in Copa America 2024, against Canada at 07:00 on June 21.
Argentina: E.Martinez, Molina, Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Nico Gonzalez, Enzo Fernandez (Quarta 71′), Mac Allister (Paredes 62′), Lo Celso (De Paul 62′), Carboni (Di Maria 62′), Messi , Lautaro Martinez (Alvarez 67′)Guatemala: Hagen, Morales, Pinto, Samayoa, Ardon, Dominguez, Castellanos (Saravia 75′), Franco, Santis (Mejia 75′), Cardoza (Garcia 65′), Rubin (Lom 75′ )
