Argentina play champagne football in 3-0 win vs. Uruguay, Lionel Messi reaches 80 goals

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Argentina played champagne football in their 3-0 win vs. Uruguay with Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martinez scoring.

The Copa America champions are now undefeated in 24 matches as the team played one of their best, if not their best match with coach Lionel Scaloni. It was Uruguay who nearly took the lead several times but Emiliano Martinez showed why he has been nominated for the best goalkeeper award.

An early chance for Uruguay fell to Luis Suarez but Martinez with a solid right hand denied Uruguay a goal. Uruguay would get another chance shortly after but once more Martinez kept Uruguay without a goal.

Emiliano Martinez with the save of the match, once more on a Luis Suarez opportunity. The ball fell to Suarez and his volley was saved by Martinez, a truly great save.

Gio Lo Celso nearly gave Argentina the 1-0 lead. Lautaro Martinez played a ball in to Lo Celso as he went around Muslera but with several Uruguayan players on the line, Lo Celso’s shot hit the crossbar.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring for Argentina. Messi played an outside of the foot cross from outside of the penalty area in to Nicolas Gonzalez but Gonzlez was unable to get to it as the ball went through Muslera for the goal.

Messi is now on 80 goals for Argentina as no other South American players has reached 80 goals.

Rodrigo De Paul, who had a man of the match performance, doubled Argentina’s lead. A loose ball inside the penalty area as De Paul got to it before everyone and his shot went in for the second goal.

At 2-0 going into half time, Lionel Messi, Gio Lo Celso and Rodrigo De Paul were toying with Uruguay, passing the ball and dribbling around them. Cristian Romero was outstanding in the first half and it went on for the entire match.

De Paul made a great run down the right wing as his pass fell to Messi. He was surrounded by several Uruguayan players and he passed the ball back to De Paul who would get an assist. Rodrigo De Paul would play a pass across the penalty area which fell to Lautaro Martinez and he scored to make it 3-0 for Argentina.

Scaloni made two changes, the first was Angel Di Maria for Rodrigo and the second had Lautaro Martinez replaced by Joaquin Correa. Argentina nearly scored another as Joaquin Correa had a chance from inside the penalty area but was unable to score.

Two more changes for Argentina as Exequiel Palacios was brought in for Leandro Parede and Julian Alvarez for Nicolas Gonzalez.

8 Comments

  1. This is the Argentina we have been waiting for- scored two first half goals and didn’t sit back to defend the lead. This is like Germany playing against Brazil in 2014 World Cup semifinal- waves after waves of attack- merciless! Uruguay clearly didn’t have an answer – they were completely outplayed. Argentina players were everywhere- 2-3 around a Uruguayan player whenever they had the ball. High intensity, high pressing, high energy.

    Such a dramatic shift from Scaloni – who had been defending a 1-0 lead in the copa. He isn’t a static coach; he changes his game plan. Sometimes he plays with caution, sometimes he plays with audacity. Today we saw the later version of Scaloni. I’m happy that it worked- will boost Scaloni’s confidence for sure.

    This game plan of Scaloni was possible because of Emi and Cuti in the line up. Not to mention a resurgence of Otamendi. They give so much stability to the back line that you can pay with audacity.

    LoCelso probably had one of his best games with Argentina. He and DePaul are the engines of Argentina midfield. You guys may claim that I have “Negative Kevin Syndrome”, as I constantly find myself criticizing Parades (opposite to eulogizing Foyth by Kevin), but I do really think that Guido will make this midfield much more balanced and solid 🙂

    DeMaria didn’t have a bad game, as some are suggesting; the old story. He provided 3-4 goal scoring chances and was unlucky to be denied twice by Muslera. Who else has this statistics paying half time? Joaking Correa, or Julian Alvarez? But, I am not sure if DeMaria is a substitute for DePaul. Actually, who is DePaul’s sub?

    • Bro your argument is legit and totally I understand
      Guido is very good player probably more balance than leo paredes, I think scaloni will use Guido more attacking teams if he needed look I really like Guido, I don’t have problem him starting ahead of paredes as long as Argentina play this kind beautiful football.
      I loved nico gonzalez though he is more useful than di maria in my opinion he makes good Diagonal run , create space plus he makes our team balance in oder to make the opponent unbalance.

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