Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez each score twice for Argentina in 4-1 win vs. Guatemala

By
Roy Nemer
-
5

Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez each scored twice for Argentina in their 4-1 win vs. Guatemala.

It was a first half that was very unlike Argentina. Despite seeing a lot of the ball, it was Guatemala who scored off their first chance of the game. A free kick into the penalty area was initially saved by Emiliano Martínez but the rebound fell to Lisandro Martínez who was trying to clear it but scored an own goal.

Lionel Messi would draw Argentina level in the easiest goal he will ever score for Argentina. The goalkeeper tried passing the ball but it was intercepted by Messi and he scored the open net.

Messi previously scored three goals vs. Guatemala on June 14, 2013 and he now has four goals against them on the date of June 14.

Emiliano Martínez cleared the ball shortly after Messi’s goal but it fell to a Guatemalan player who’s effort on goal went just high. Valentin Carboni saw much of the ball and was tackled inside the penalty area and Argentina were awarded a penalty kick.

Lautaro Martínez took the penalty and he went low with a lot of power and beat the goalkeeper to give Argentina the 2-1 lead.

Argentina were awarded a free kick and Messi would hit the post which was followed by Lautaro hitting the post and the ball fell to Lisandro Martínez who scored but it was ruled out for offside.

Scaloni started the second half with no changes but did make three changes early on in the half. Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul were substituted in for Valentín Carboni, Alexis Mac Allister and Gio Lo Celso.

Enzo would get the ball and cross it to Messi who would play it short to Lautaro and he would score from close range to make it 3-1 for Argentina. He now has 24 goals with the Argentina national team.

Julián Álvarez replaced Lautaro Martínez, Gonzalo Montiel for Nahuel Molina and Lucas Martínez Quarta for Enzo Fernández.

Ángel Di María would change the match for Argentina, creating chances and making runs. He would hold the ball and pass it to Lionel Messi and Messi would chip the goalkeeper to make it 4-1 for Argentina.

The friendly matches are over and Argentina play their first match of the 2024 Copa America on Thursday vs. Canada.

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5 Comments

  1. We started in a sluggish way either due to tiredness or due to overconfidence. The goal was completely uncalled for. It was an own goal by chance. Otherwise, one of their forwards beat our defence and flicked the ball well. Dibu’s save was uncharacteristically sloppy. The team woke up but remained clueless till Messi received the before-the-bash birthday gift. Then we were back into the game. We took another 10-15 mins to break their high-up bus-parking strategy thanks to some energetic display by Valentin Carboni. Should we start dreaming that one day he would be the next Di Maria? Not sure. Once Di Maria came in the second half, the huge class difference was on display. Carboni needs lotta development to bridge this gap. But he is good. Overall, the show was fair. But lack of passing accuracy of some players, lack of finishing capability of Nicco and Alvarez and Macca’s form would give Scaloni sleepless nights, if he is still hungry for more cups. The Licha-Ota combination did not work. But Nico as left back worked well from a defensive perspective. He was better in defence compared to his show upfront. The good takeaways were Torro’s eagerness to score which resulted in two for him, Carboni, Messi looking sharper than against Ecuador, Paredes, De Paul. But is Scaloni’s team ready to take on tough opponents through-out the next few weeks? I am not sure.